One of the things I like the most about re-starting my reading plan is that it puts me back in the Psalms. Lord willing, between now and sometime in late July, I’ll have the joy of reading through these wonderful, God-inspired songs. From past experience, I anticipate identifying with the Psalmist in many cases as he pours out his heart before His God . . . as He exalts His God . . . as He praises and worships His God. I know that my experiences are different . . . and that maybe I’ll stretch the identification and application a bit . . . but there is a heart-to-heart connection with these pieces of poetry that stirs the soul and lifts the spirit.

For example, as I read Psalm 3 this morning, I know that I can’t really claim to identify with David as he wrote this. It says it was written “when he fled from Absalom his son.” What a mess that situation was! David’s firstborn son, Amnon, forces himself on his half-sister, Tamar, and then rejects her. Tamar’s brother, Absalom, Amnon’s half-brother, hates Amnon and eventually murders him. Absalom flees from David . . . David calls him home but essentially leaves him in exile . . . Absalom develops a hatred for his father . . . and successfully puts together a coup to oust David. Absalom has the throne . . . David is disgraced and on the run. Time to write a poem . . . queue Psalm 3 . . .

And though I can’t literally relate to David’s plight and circumstance, I find myself owning his words as mine . . . particularly verse 3 . . .

“But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.” – Psalm 3:3

Though David was on the run . . . though many were rising up against him . . . though they sought to convince him that God had abandoned him . . . David draws upon what he has known to be true . . . he affirms the reality of God’s hand upon his life. The Lord had been a shield . . . against lions and bears as he tended sheep . . . against an arrogant giant of a man . . . against thousands of enemy Philistines. God hadn’t changed . . . he was still his shield. The Lord was his glory . . . David may have had some talents, some capabilities, but it was the gracious, Sovereign hand of God that took from lowly shepherd to King of Israel. No room for David to boast . . . his glory was God’s glory. And, as the Old King James puts it, the Lord also was “the lifter of mine head.” It was He who had lifted him to the throne . . . He who had lifted his head in victory, time and again, over his enemies. The Lord was His shield, His glory, and the lifter of his head.

David knew this to be true . . . believed it with all his heart . . . and thus, drew upon it during this low, low time in his life. As such, he would cry to the Lord confident that God would hear him from His holy hill (v.4). He could lay down at night able to sleep, for the Lord sustained him (v.5). He would not be afraid, for he knew that ultimately his salvation belonged to the Lord . . . that God had promised blessings upon His people (v. 6-8).

And though I haven’t known David’s experience specifically, I have found myself at times feeling somewhat overwhelmed by circumstance. Felt a bit on the run . . . kind of desperate . . . somewhat alone and maybe a bit confused. And, it seems to me, those are good times to look back . . . and recall God’s protection over me in the past — He is a shield for me. To take a few moments and think of how God has used me for his purposes and remember that it was all because of Him — He is my glory. To pause and consider yesterday’s triumphs and reaffirm that it was He who led the way in those victories — He is the lifter of mine head.

Oh, what a Savior . . . what a Comforter . . . what an Advocate . . . what a God.

You, O Lord, are the lifter of mine head . . . by Your grace enable me to continue to trust and to rest in You . . . for Your glory . . . amen!