Text: Psalm 3
INTRODUCTION
Today is Wednesday in Holy Week, sometimes called Spy Wednesday, since it was observed traditionally as the day when Judas Iscariot agreed on betraying Jesus Christ to the chief priests for thirty pieces of silver.
It is appropriate, then, that Psalm 3, on which I have chosen to preach this evening, begins with the words, “Lord, how are they increased that trouble me: many are they that rise against me” (Psalm 3:1, 1928 Prayer Book). The speaker could be the Lord Jesus Christ in the week of his crucifixion. He exclaims how the number of those who trouble him has increased, and those who oppose him are many. It is good for us to read this Psalm as if the Lord Jesus himself were the speaker. Since we are united with Christ through Baptism, we share in his sufferings in some way. When we bear witness to the Lord Jesus and live our lives in conformity to his will, we will find that our enemies and even those who misunderstand us or reject us will increase.
The second verse expresses the absolute contempt with which the speaker’s enemies or oppressors view him. His God cannot help him. We think of the passersby who mocked Jesus as he was hanging on the cross, the priests and religious leaders who sneered at the idea of God coming to save Jesus from dying on the cross. How easy it is when someone is helpless because of betrayal and oppression, to view the invisibility of God as proof that he will offer no help to the one they have delivered to death.
But what is the speaker’s response? Does he despair? No! He affirms that the Lord is his defender, his worship, and the lifter up of his head (verse 3). The “lifter up of my head” indicates the God who reverses the shame of the devout person who has been cruelly oppressed. God restores that person to honor. The speaker not only expresses his faith in God, but he actually calls on God to help him, and God hears him and helps him. If this applies to Christ, God hears his cry, but does not prevent him from death on the cross, but lifts up his head by raising him from the dead. We, too, must continue to believe God hears our cry when we call on him for help. We must wait in faith for God to deliver us from all who oppress us. God will restore us to honor at the proper time.
While we wait for the Lord to deliver and restore us, we must live our lives in peace, trusting in the Lord’s sustenance and strength, as verse 5 shows us: “I laid me down and slept, and rose up again; for the Lord sustained me” (Psalm 3:5, KJV). This sustaining grace of the Lord reminds us of when Elijah was fleeing from Jezebel’s threats to kill him, and the angel provided bread and water to sustain him (1 Kings 19:5-8).
The Lord’s sustaining grace and faithfulness to defend him brings the speaker to express the confidence of not being afraid, even when surrounded by myriads of enemies (verse 6). This confidence and faith in God is exemplary, and an inspiration to many in dire situations.
Verse 7 can be problematic for some, since it shows violence against enemies. What we have to understand is these are expressions that show God’s complete victory over the ungodly. In military battles, it was often a case of killing the enemy in order to prevent oneself from being killed. We must understand God will be victorious over all the enemies of his people. This must happen in the end for God’s people to receive complete deliverance and eternal blessing.
APPLICATION
Let this psalm assure you of the power of God to deliver you from any situation, and from any enemies, and restore you to honor and freedom according to his will.