Psalm 3

1 O LORD, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
"God will not deliver him."
Selah

3 But you are a shield around me, O LORD;
you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.

4 To the LORD I cry aloud,
and he answers me from his holy hill.
Selah

5 I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.

6 I will not fear the tens of thousands
drawn up against me on every side.

7 Arise, O LORD!
Deliver me, O my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.

8 From the LORD comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.
Selah

This psalm was written by David while he was fleeing away from his son, Absalom. I could imagine the depth of emotions that David had.

The fear. The despair. The helplessness. The sadness. The weariness.

2 things I felt God spoke to me as I read this psalm.
1. In verse 3, David acknowledged that God was His shield. He was well-protected.
2. In verse 5, David acknowledged that God was the one who sustained Him.

Firstly, there have been times in my life that I felt that some people were just unfriendly and against me. I felt like retaliating, to be honest. To treat them the same way as they did to me. An eye for an eye.

However, that wasn't what David did. He chose to trust in the Lord. He believed that God was His shield. God will bring him through whatever circumstances. God will protect him.

Jesus put it plainly in Luke 6:27-33. Love your enemies. Let God be the one who vindicates you.

Secondly, there are times that I personally felt burnt out. There were so many things that needed my attention, and I just felt like giving up, and not doing anything. But now, I know that my response should be like David.

Let God be the one that sustains me. I don't want to rely on my own strength.

In order for me to really recognize that God is my shield and He is the one who sustains me, I need to grown in INTIMACY with Him in the Year of Sabbath, 2008. Everyday before food, 1 psalm a day is a commitment that the church have made corporately.


Dear Father-in-heaven, help me remember that You are always my shield. When I am in difficult circumstances or when I faced broken relationships with people, You will protect me and vindicate me. Lord, I want to trust You in all things. And also, I pray that I will always allow You to sustain me, whether is it good times or bad times. Help me also grow in intimacy with You. In Jesus' name I ask and pray. Amen!