Help, Safety, and Guidance

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 3-5

 

Psalm 4:7-8

You have put gladness in my heart,
More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
⁸ I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

(NKJV)

 

We live in a troubled world full of war, natural disasters, ungodly behavior, violence in the street, and persecution of Christians who dare take a stand on God’s Word against such things. However, these are also great times to live for Christ because the harvest fields are ripe with people seeking answers, answers that are found in Christ and the truth of his word (Matthew 9:37-38). In Psalm 3-5 David provides guidance on how we can find help, safety, and guidance from God in these troubled times.

 

David wrote Psalm 3 during the time he fled from Absalom, his son. The psalm begins with a lament from David of how those troubling him have increased, with many saying there is no help for David in God (Psalm 3:1-2). David tells the Lord that He is a shield for him, his glory and the one lifting up his head (Psalm 3:3). David cried out to the Lord with his voice and the Lord heard him from His holy hill (Psalm 3:4). Because the Lord heard him, David could lay down to sleep and awaken with the Lord sustaining him (Psalm 3:5). David has no fear of the ten thousands of people who are against him, knowing the Lord will arise to save him and strike down his enemies (Psalm 3:6-7). Salvation belongs to the Lord, and His blessing is upon His people (Psalm 3:8).

 

Theologians also believe Psalm 4 to have been written during the time of Absalom’s rebellion. It begins with a plea from David for the Lord to hear him when he calls knowing God has relieved him in his distress, asking God to have mercy on him and hear his prayer (Psalm 4:1). He then asks those opposing him how long they will turn David’s glory into shame, loving worthlessness, and seeking falsehood (Psalm 4:2). David knows the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly with the Lord hearing him when he calls (Psalm 4:3). David then offers the instruction to be angry and not to sin and to be still while meditating within their hearts on their bed, offering the sacrifices of righteousness while putting their trust in the Lord (Psalm 4:4-5). Many are asking who will show them any good with David asking the Lord to show the light of His countenance upon them (Psalm 4:6). The Lord has put gladness in the heart of David that is greater than when their grain and wine increased so he will lie down in peace and sleep knowing the Lord will make him dwell in safety (Psalm 4:7-8).

 

In Psalm 5, David offers a prayer for guidance that could apply to any time when he was in trouble. It begins with David asking the Lord to hear his words and meditation for it is to the Lord, his King and God, who will direct his prayers in the morning (Psalm 5:1-3). David knows the Lord God takes no pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil live with Him. The boastful shall not stand in His sight, nor shall the workers of iniquity. The Lord will also destroy those speaking falsehood, and He abhors bloodthirsty and deceitful men (Psalm 5:4-6). David comes to the house of the Lord because of His mercy and in fear worships Him, asking the Lord to lead him in righteousness (Psalm 5:7-8). David says there is no faithfulness in the mouth of his enemies and asks the Lord to pronounce them guilty because of their rebellion (Psalm 5:9-10). May all those placing their trust in God rejoice and shout for joy because the Lord defends them with the Lord blessing the righteous and surrounding them as a shield (Psalm 5:11-12).

 

These are all psalms of David, which he wrote at various times in his life. Psalm 3 was written during a time in David’s life when he fled from Absalom, his son (2 Samuel 15). It is a Psalm of one crying out to God during a time of great trouble in his life. This psalm concludes with David finding peace and even sleeping in peace (Psalm 3:5).

 

Theologians believe the same circumstances surround the writing of Psalms 3 and 4, with Psalm 4 a lament expressing trust in God amid distress. Whereas Psalm 3 expresses the Lord’s help in times of trouble that result in one having God’s peace in troubled times (Psalm 3:5), Psalm 4 is a declaration by David of trust in God. This trust in God has resulted in David having gladness in his heart that even exceeds the gladness of when their grain and wine increased. Again, David declares that this trust has resulted in peace and the ability to sleep in safety (Psalm 4:7-8).

 

Psalm 5 is a prayer of David for guidance in the face of attacks by his enemies (Psalm 5:8). This psalm could have had application to the time when David battled the rebellion of His son Absalom (2 Samuel 15). It also has an application for other times of distress for David. The takeaway from this Psalm is David’s willingness to seek guidance from God and not to lean on his own understanding, something his son Solomon might have observed (Proverbs 3:5). The question we should ask in reading this Psalm is Whom I go to for guidance during times of trouble in my life.

 

Troubling times are not something unique for David and are something Jesus warned us about, but with the reminder, Jesus overcame the world (John 16:33). Psalms 3-5 serve to remind us that the Lord is there to help us in troubled time as the overcomer of sin and death through His death, burial, and resurrection. We can also trust the Lord to guide us in troubled times as a lamp unto our feet and a light for our path (Psalm 119:105). Know that the Lord provides help, safety, and guidance through life as our good shepherd (Psalm 23).

 

One learning to trust in God for help, safety, and guidance in times of trouble begins with trusting in God to take care of their greatest problem, sin in their lives. If you have never taken this first step, I encourage you to do so now by praying with me.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

I invite you to let someone know of your decision or to comment on this post about your decision. I also encourage you to become involved in a Church that teaches the Bible and following through with baptism. May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.