Psalm 3: Dysfunction to Delight

Key Verses
3     But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. 4 I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill.
 
Meditation
God’s sovereign grace transforms dysfunction to delight, redeeming family disorder for His glory.
 
We can joke about keeping the “fun” in dysfunctional regarding some part of our family dynamics.  But nothing about family dysfunction behind Psalm 3 is humorous. The historical backdrop in 2 Samuel 15 reveals a devastatingly painful episode for King David. His son Absalom staged a coup, seeking both his father’s throne and his life, partly as a response to David’s failure to act decisively after the sexual assault of Tamar (David’s daughter and Absalom’s sister).  Psalm 3 is David’s prayer while fleeing for his life. 

David’s “foes” in today’s reading are not foreign enemies but family and former trusted leaders, who taunt him by claiming he is beyond divine help (vv. 1-2). David directs his faith above the dysfunction to God Himself, looking to the Lord as His shield, glory, salvation, and strength (vv. 3-4). Because the Lord reigns, David can lie down and sleep in peace (v. 5) through trusting God for deliverance (vv. 6-8). As Spurgeon famously said, 
 
“God’s sovereignty is the pillow on which believers rest their head to sleep.”
 
This is God’s consistent pattern throughout Scripture: He redeems family dysfunction in His time and His way (see the story of Joseph and His brothers where God’s sovereign grace transforms evil intentions into instruments of salvation and glory- Genesis 50). The same sovereign grace invites us to find security in God’s steadfast love, lifting our eyes in worship to see Him and opening our hearts to trust Jesus for His redeeming power to transform dysfunction into delight.
 
Today’s Reading
Lord, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;
2     many are saying of my soul,
“There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah
3     But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
4     I cried aloud to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah
5     I lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
6     I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.
7     Arise, O Lord!
Save me, O my God!
       For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you break the teeth of the wicked.
8     Salvation belongs to the Lord;
your blessing be on your people! Selah
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you about a Psalm of worship written from the context of family dysfunction? How does this historical context immediately change how you look at the difficulty of dysfunction in your family and life?
 
-Where do you need to lift your eyes off the dysfunction to see God as your protector, provider, redeemer, and sustainer? How would this change your engagement with difficult relationships?
 
-Jesus’ work demonstrates and fulfills God’s promises, specifically His promise to transform evil intentions for His purposes, the good of His people, and the glory of His name. Where do you need to turn from your lack of faith to more fully trust God’s sovereign grace?

Key Verses
3     But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. 4 I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill.