God Our Shield
Psalm 3:1–8
But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. Psalm 3:3

The first stanza of Psalm 3 is an expression of the crisis that has come into the psalmist’s life because of the enemies who have risen up against him. The second stanza is a quiet expression of his confidence in God. What has produced this abrupt but obvious change? The answer is that he has turned his attention from his enemies to God.

When a believer gazes too long at his enemies, the force arrayed against him seems to grow in size until it appears to be overwhelming. But when he turns his thoughts to God, God is seen in his true, great stature, and the enemies shrink to manageable proportions.

This principle was illustrated by the difference between the ten and the two spies when they were sent into Canaan at the time of the Jewish conquest. Ten of the spies were overwhelmed with the stature of the Canaanites, especially the descendants of Anak, who were giants. They said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are. . . . We seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers” (Num. 13:31, 33). The other two spies, Caleb and Joshua, said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it” (v. 30).

What was the difference? Had they seen different things? No. The land was the same. Both groups had seen the giants. But the ten looked only at the giants and forgot about God, with the result that they seemed in their own eyes to shrink to the size of grasshoppers. The two kept their eyes on God, and for them it was the giants who appeared small.

So also with David. As soon as David turned his thoughts to God, he was reminded of how strong God is, and his foes, even the formidable armies then flocking to the side of his rebellious son Absalom, seemed manageable. He tells us three things about God. First, God was a “shield” around him. God had been a shield for him on earlier occasions; he would prove himself to be so again. Second, God was “the lifter” of his head, even when he was severely cast down. Sin beats us down; God always lifts us up. We can expect God to do that for us, even if we do not see him doing it right now. Third, God “answered” the psalmist when he cried aloud to him. God always answers, though not always at once and not always as we wish.

If you are not fully aware of what you have in God—a shield against foes, a lifter-up of your drooping head, a responder to prayer—this is a good time to think about it.

Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865

Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.