My friend confided that he hadn’t been sleeping well. His sleeplessness was related to a difficult family situation that had kept him up at night. It happened that this was the day I had planned to discuss Psalm 3 with my Bible study group.
In Psalm 3, King David also had a family problem, one that would lead most of us to sleeplessness. His son Absalom was undermining David’s rule over Israel as part of his plan to overthrow him and snatch the crown for himself.
David was in despair. He fled Jerusalem after a messenger said, “the hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom” (2 Samuel 15:13). In Psalm 3:1, David describes his situation: “Lord, how many are my foes!”
But notice how David found peace. He recalled that God was his shield of protection and that He “lifts [his] head” (v. 3). Then came the help we all need when we fret over our circumstances: David was able to “lie down and sleep”. He observed, “I wake again, because the Lord sustains me” (v. 5).
For my friend facing a tough time, this was great news. And for all of us who face hard circumstances and sleepless nights, our God protects us and gives us rest. When we place our total trust in Him, He helps us “lie down and sleep” (v. 5).
By Dave Branon
REFLECT & PRAY
What is causing you sleeplessness? Instead of listening to those who distrust God (Psalm 3:2), how are you trusting His offer to protect you?
Heavenly Father, please shield me, comfort me and allow me to lie down and sleep.
Psalm 3 is a psalm of lament written by David. The superscription provides us with a reason for his despair: “A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.” The events surrounding this event are found in 2 Samuel 15. Absalom, with the aid of David’s close friend and counsellor Ahithophel, tried to unseat his father as king and take the throne for himself, forcing him to flee Jerusalem (vv. 13-37). Psalm 3 captures David’s heartache when he was on the run from his own son. But, like most songs of lament, it ends with a hopeful note: “From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people” (v. 8). In his lament, David trusts in God for his rescue. God gives him rest and helps him “lie down and sleep” (v. 5) even in the midst of his circumstances. He provides rest for us as too as we trust in Him.
Bill Crowder
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