notes

Main point summary

Salvation belongs to the LORD

Devotion

Have their ever been times when you felt as if the whole world was against you or crumbling before you? Here we have David, a man after God's own heart, fleeing from his own Son, Absalom. This comes after David had slept with Bathsheba, and Nathan the prophet told David that evil will rise up against him from his own house, so in a sense, this was expected. He starts off by talking talking to God about how many are his foes. Many rise up against him, and declare to him that there is no salvation to be found for him in God. But, from verse 3a onwards, we see the tone of the Psalm shift. While he concedes in Psalm 3:1-2 that there are many foes surrounding him, God is still his shield, and he spends the next 3 verses unpacking who God is for him and what he does. This he does before powerfully concluding in verse 6 that he will not be afraid! Wow, that is incredible! Here is a man who just had a conspiracy against his rule from someone within his own family, his own flesh and blood and he declares that he will not fear! This leads him to the amazing petition towards God, asking him to arise and save him, because he knows God can overcome his enemies. What amazing security David has in God! And in verse 8a, we see is what I believe is the key idea: That salvation belongs only to the LORD. This is a sharp contrast to what the enemies were saying to David, thinking that David's salvation in God is not there. Their jeering words were empty, because man cannot dictate who has salvation and who does not. David recognised this, and this was reflected in his actions in how he cries out to God, knowing only he can save. May the strong truth that salvation belongs only to the LORD, not cause us to doubt or fear, but throw ourselves completely on him, knowing that he is merciful towards us (Titus 3:5); he will protect us from our enemies.

Prayer

Dear God, there are many times in life where I feel like I'm overwhelmed - when the trials of life seem too hard to overcome. My flesh wages war continually with me, hitting me with a barrage of thoughts and temptations to sin, and the Deceiver is there trying to undermine the truth, whispering lies in my heart that salvation for me cannot be found in you. But I stand against these armed with your word, the sword of the Spirit. And your word declares that you, O God, are my shield, my protector, the one who lifts me up. You hear my cries, and you sustain my life; I will therefore not be afraid of what comes my path. You are my Rock, unchanging and strong. I may be weak, and my heart and my flesh my fail, but you, O Lord, are the strength and the portion of my heart forever. Salvation can only be found in you, so may I ever lean on your grace and the love you poured out for me on the cross. In Jesus' mighty name we pray, amen.

Arc/Bracket

editing

OT

Psalms 3:1-8

esv

mine

A Psᴀʟᴍ ᴏꜰ Dᴀᴠɪᴅ, ᴡʜᴇɴ ʜᴇ ꜰʟᴇᴅ ꜰʀᴏᴍ Aʙsᴀʟᴏᴍ ʜɪs sᴏɴ.

A Psᴀʟᴍ ᴏꜰ Dᴀᴠɪᴅ, ᴡʜᴇɴ ʜᴇ ꜰʟᴇᴅ ꜰʀᴏᴍ Aʙsᴀʟᴏᴍ ʜɪs sᴏɴ.

O LORD, o how many are my foes!

O LORD, there are so many foes against me!

Many are p rising against me;

That is to say , many rise up against up as my enemies,

many are saying of my soul,

and furthermore , many are saying that

q there is no salvation for him in God. Selah 1

God will not save him - he cannot find salvation in God. Selah

ideaexplanation

progression

But you, O LORD, are r a shield s about me,

Nevertheless , you God, are a shield of protection around me,

my glory,

and my glory,

and t the lifter of my head.

and the one who exalts me, lifting me up.

series

I u cried aloud to the LORD,

[This can be seen when] I cried out to YHWH,

and he v answered me from his w holy hill. Selah

and as a result, he answered me from his sacred place. Selah

actionresult

I x lay down and slept;

Moreover , I went to sleep,

I woke again,

and then I woke up again,

for the LORD sustained me.

because the LORD sustained my life.

ground

I y will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have z set themselves against me all around.

Therefore , I will not be afraid of the many people who have surrounded me and have set themselves against me.

inference

concessive

a Arise, O LORD!

So now, I will declare: Arise, O LORD!

Save me, O my God!

And save me, O my God!

For you b strike all my enemies on the cheek; you c break the teeth of the wicked.

Because you will defeat and overcome my enemies and the wicked people.

d Salvation belongs to the LORD;

Salvation belongs only to the LORD,

your blessing be on your people! Selah

in other words , your blessing will be on your people! Selah

David concedes that there are many surrounding him, and that there is a declaration from that salvation for him is not found in God.

Nevertheless, God is still protecting David, and sustains him, and therefore, he is not afraid of his enemies, no matter how many there are!

David petitions God to save him because he knows that God can do so. As much as his enemies think that there is no salvation to be found in God, David knows the truth: "Salvation belongs to the LORD"

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