I greet all of you in the blessed name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Our text for this morning’s message is taken from Psalm 3. Nothing can be worse than being in trouble. But what can be more painful than the trouble coming to us from someone closest to us? When our husband, wife or children have turn against us. Or they are trying to do something harmful to us. This was exactly what happened to David when he had to flee from his own son, Absalom. This is the first of fourteen Davidic Psalm that has an introduction, which states the actual historical event that caused David to write the Psalm. So when you read this Psalm, it begins with, “A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.” If you look down to Psalm 30, that’s another Psalm with an introduction. It says, “A Psalm and song at the dedication of the house of David.” So the historical background of Psalm 3 was that as the king of Israel, David was occupied with the affairs of his government. While in the mean time his son Absalom was stealing the hearts of the people and planning a rebellion in the nearby city of Hebron. The rebellion was so sudden and unexpected that David had no recourse nor could he deal with the situation. The only thing he could do was to flee from the capital Jerusalem, running for his life and only those who were faithful to him went along with him. As David ran down from the capital Jerusalem and cross the Kidron Valley, and all the way over to Mount Olives and then into the safety of the desert. The Bible tells us that as he ran, he was weeping, crying, barefooted. His whole head was covered with sorrow. But how could he not be sorrowful when his own son was trying to kill him? Consider that - your own son trying to kill you. On top of that, his own trusted advisor and counsellor, Ahithophel had also turned against him and supported Absalom. This counsellor, Ahithophel even advise Absalom to take David’s concubines in order to show all Israel how repulsive he was to his own father. Along the way David met Shimei, a Benjamite. This person had remained loyal to the house of Saul. When he saw David, he started to cast stones at David and his men and even openly curse at him. This is what Shimei said, “come out, come out thou bloody men and thou man of Belial, or son of the devil. The Lord has repaid you for all the blood you shed in the household of Saul. And the Lord has given the kingdom over to your son Absalom. You will be destroyed because you are a man of blood.” I am paraphrasing what was recorded in 2 Samuel chapter 16. This is just a brief background of Psalm 3. So you can imagine how David would have felt when he wrote this Psalm. Having to run from his own son, trying to kill him. Having his own counsellor, Ahithophel turning against him. And then along the way people like Shimei casting stones and cursing at him. My friends, you may not have your son trying to kill you. But most certainly you would have face all sorts of trouble in your life. Especially from people who are very familiar and close to you. Perhaps you are facing tremendous opposition in your workplace from colleagues, subordinates whom you have been working with for years. Everywhere you turn in the company, you see people trying to destroy one another. You hear gossips, rumours, lies, misrepresentation, even violence, maybe not physically but verbally. Or even in your own family. You children may not try to kill but they hate you. And they are constantly rebelling against you, opposing whatever you say. Or your wife, or your husband whom you taught was always supporting your work and ministry, all of sudden turn against you and speak against what you stand for. And then join others who are opposing you. In such times like these, what can we do? Who can we turn to?
I. An Expression Of The Trouble
Let us learn from David – how he responded in such a situation. The title of our message is: “Having Confidence In Times Of Trouble.” Our first point is: “An Expression Of The Trouble.” Let us begin with verse 1, “LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.” “Selah” means to pause, to rest or to be silent. So if the Psalmist was singing this Psalm, this would be a musical pause. If the Psalmist was reading this Psalm then this would be the time to pause and think. So you would see three pauses there, we will talk about that along the way. The word ‘trouble’ means adversary or enemy. Notice how David describe his enemies – they are increasing in numbers, many are rising, many are saying. And in verse 6 he described his enemies as “ten thousands of people.” In other words it was a great number. They were all saying, “there’s no help for him in God,” which means ‘even his own God is not able to save him.’ Isn’t it true that in times of trouble, there will always be people who will cause us to think that we must have done something wrong or God does not love us any more. Or He has forsaken us otherwise why are we going through this trouble. Or He is punishing us for our mistakes, because of that it may cause us to doubt our faith, even our salvation. And cause us to question God and His love. I am not saying that God does not discipline those whom He loves. But there is a difference between punishing us and disciplining us - one is motivated by love, the other is by wrath. Our Lord Jesus when He died on the cross of Calvary, He took the wrath of God upon Himself because of our sins – on behalf of all of us who believes in Him. So we no longer need to face the wrath of God as in His punishment. As believers, we will not face His punishment as in His wrath, but we will still face His discipline as in accordance to His love. Do you realise something very interesting about troubles or enemies? Whenever we focus on the trouble or the enemy, whatever it may be, whatever troubles you are going through at this moment, somehow the enemy will seem to grow in size. So much so that it will overwhelm us. But the moment we turn our attention to God, that is when the enemy will become smaller and smaller. Allow me to give you a biblical example and that is Joshua and Caleb and the ten spies sent to Canaan. Before the Israelites conquered the Promised Land, remember how the Israelites sent out the spies? Ten of the spies were overwhelmed by the size and strength of the Canaanites, especially the descendants of Anak who were like giants. The ten spies returned back and reported, they said this, ‘we cannot attack those people, they are much stronger than we are. All the people we saw there are great in size. They are like giants. We are like grasshoppers to them.’ But what did Joshua and Caleb said? Well this is what they said, ‘Let us go up at once and possess the land for we are well able to overcome it.’ You can read about that in Numbers 13. What was the difference? They had all seen the same enemies in the Promised Land – both had seen the Canaanites. But the ten spies only looked at enemies and forgot about God. So as the enemies become bigger and bigger in their eyes, they also became smaller and smaller in their own eyes. Finally, they said, ‘we are like grasshoppers.’ But Joshua and Caleb kept their eyes on God, for them it was the giants who appeared smaller. That was exactly what David did. Indeed the enemies were real – they were there. The bible tells us they are increasing in numbers – many are rising, many are saying. Instead of just focusing on the enemies, he turned his attention to God and he said this in verse 3, “But thou, O LORD.” The moment David did that, he was reminded of how strong God was. And then his enemies no matter how powerful they were they became so small. Now they did not seem to bother him anymore. My friends, this is a wonderful lesson for us to learn and take heed. We may be surrounded by many problems – family problems, physical problems, emotional problems, relationship problems, financial problems, health problems etcetera. No matter how devastating the trouble is we must pause as the word ‘Selah’ tells us to do so. Pause and turn our attention to God. Don’t just focus on the trouble; don’t just focus on the enemy. Consider God and think about who God is and pray. The moment we do that it does not mean that our problems will disappear. Even though the problems may still be there but it will become smaller and smaller, and it will not bother us as it used to before.
II. An Expression Of The Confidence
Our second point is: “An Expression Of The Confidence.” Look at verses 3 and 4, “But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.” David knew that he was surrounded by enemies. The only one whom he could trust and rely on was God. Although the people closest to him had abandoned him, his own son tried to kill him, his own adviser turned against him. But he had this firm and strong conviction that God would never forget nor forsake him. Three important things David said gave him much confidence. Firstly he said, “thou, O LORD, art a shield for me;” Remember David was a military man. Here he was using military term. No soldiers in his right frame of mind would enter the battlefield without a shield. The shield is his only defence and protection. In other words, David knew that God alone was his shield. His protection from all kinds of attacks that came to him from all directions. Have you ever encountered someone who shared with you his or her problems? Most certainly I believe you had. And you were trying to tell the person to trust in God. So you kept telling the person that, “you must trust in God.” But every time you mention God, the person would brush it aside and went on and on talking about the problem. Ignoring who God is but just focusing on the problem. At the end of the conversation, the person said, “well I have no choice but to continue to press on.” You knew for sure that he or she would lose the battle. Why? Because there was no protection, just as a physical soldier cannot fight the battle without a shield. The believer, the spiritual soldier also cannot fight the spiritual battle without God as his shield. Without God as his protector; he would surely lose the battle. Once we take our eyes away from God who is our protector – we would fail, we would lose. David said, “Thou art my shield.” Secondly David said, “my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” In times of victory the soldier would have much dignity, prestige and honour. And his head would be lifted up high. In times of defeat when he had to run for his life away from his enemies - that would be the time his head would hang low in shame. Because there is no more glory, no more honour, no more dignity but just shame. Have you ever been so discouraged and disappointed? Especially when you have failed. People are lashing out at you, saying all kinds of things about you, laughing at you – you feel so dejected, so depressed. You feel like a loser. Well my friends, you do not need to wallow in self-pity. Be like David, he said, “O Lord, Thou art my glory.” Notice David did not say, “God give me power, success and victory so that my enemies will know who I am.” If he did that he would be seeking for his own glory. Instead, he wanted his enemies to know who his God is. That was the reason why he said, “The Lord is my glory.” My friends, when we pray for deliverance whether from our sicknesses, afflictions, Covid-19 whatever it may be. When we pray for victory and blessings, we should not be seeking for our own vindication, self-justification, to be proven right, to show people that we have been blessed by God. Or worst still for self-glorification. God forbids. We should always seek the glory of God. We want the world to know that our God is great. We want everyone to know who our God is. He is the one who has delivered us. He is the one who has lifted up our heads that we would not hang low in shame. The Lord is my glory. Thirdly David said, “I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me.” When God hears, he answers. He always do. He will always answer prayers. Although not always according to what we wish, because what we wish may not be best for us. Only God alone knows what is best for us. Sometimes God does not give to us what we wish because we wish for things wrong. As James 4 verse 3 says, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss.” You missed it. You missed what is the right thing you should have, you pray not according to God’s will – amiss. “That ye may consume it upon your lusts.” So God did not give it to you. And other times God does not give it to us because we do not even ask. We do not even pray for it. Why would God give it to us? Again, the word “Selah” is very telling because it was as if the Psalmist paused to think ‘in times of trouble, God was his shield. God was his protector. In times of trouble, God was the one who had lifted up his head. In times of trouble, God had answered his prayers.’ So my friends, it is good as we read this particular Psalm – pause as the Psalmist paused. “Selah”. Stop and think. God is our shield. He is our protector. He is the only one who can lift up our heads - so that we would not wallow in self-pity. He is the only one who can answer our prayers.
III. An Expression Of The Deliverance
And what was the outcome of all that? Well this brings us to our third and final point, “An Expression of The Deliverance.” Look at verse 5, “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.” There were many enemies out there who wanted David dead. Yet night after night, he would go to sleep and rest and wake up the next morning. Think about that. How was he able to do that? The answer is simply, “The Lord sustained me.” In other words, the Lord was the one who had kept him through the night. The Lord was the one who had granted him the good night’s rest. Again, the problem was still there. It does not mean that when he goes to sleep, the problem disappeared. No. Though the problem be there still. What it means is that he was able to entrust all his concerns to God. I know some of you may be thinking ‘well it is easier said than done. I want to go to sleep. Who doesn’t? I want to trust God and go to sleep but with so much troubles in my life. My mind would not give me rest. I just cannot go to sleep.’ There are few important points for us to take note. What are the things that cause people to lose sleep? One thing for sure is past regrets. Things that they have done in the past, for example, they keep thinking about the wrong decisions they have made in the past. It bothers them so much. Present realities – things that are happening at this very moment. Perhaps the lump in the chest has been diagnosed as cancerous. They cannot go to sleep because of that. Or the company is not doing well – they are retrenched and struggling to pay the bills. Things happening at this present moment. Future unknowns – things that are happening in the future. They might be thinking ‘what am I going to do for the rest of my life. Will I get married? Will I have children? And if I have children, will I be able to take care of my children? And so forth.’ Most of the time, these are the three things that will cause people to lose sleep. Past regrets, present realities, future unknowns. My friends, do you realise that we are in no control of all these things. Why do we worry about these things when we have absolutely no control of? What is past is past. What is present what is future, we are in no control of neither do we know. Yet, they can trouble us so much that we would lose our sleep for them. Secondly, we must remember that even a good night’s rest cometh from God. He is the only one who can sustain us through the night. As David said, “The Lord sustained me.” And thirdly, we must train ourselves to entrust all our concerns to God. It does not come automatically. It does not come to us all of a sudden that we are able to do so. It has to start somewhere. That is why every night before we go to bed, we must pray. “Lord, I have done everything I can throughout the whole day. I thank you for the strength you have given to me. The problem is still there, but I need a good night’s rest. To be refreshed. To be restored. So that I can wake up tomorrow and face the new challenges of another day. Lord, sustain me through the night.” When we do that on a daily basis. Trusting all our concerns to God. slowly and gradually we will be like David who said this, “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.” It does not come to us all of a sudden. It does not at the snap of a finger that we are able to do so. But we train ourselves to entrust all our concerns to God on a daily basis. When David was refreshed he said in verse 6, “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.” We know that David was a brave man. He was already so bold and courageous when he was young. If you remember the rest of the Israelites were so afraid of Goliath. David was the person who said this, “I will fight him.” Here, the Psalmist tells us where his courage come from. It was not because he had extraordinary, supernatural abilities but it was because of his confidence in God. He feared only one person and that is God. One of the bravest men in history was Oliver Cromwell. In the 1600s, he became known as the protector of England, Scotland and Ireland. He was a brave military man who fought many wars and trained a first class navy and army. Once he was asked to give an explanation of his bravery. And his answer was this, “Because I fear God, I have no man to fear.” Think about this - because I fear God, I have no man to fear. Like David, God gave him the bravery. Because he knew in his heart that all the enemies combined together, God is infinitely stronger. As David said ‘even ten thousands of people, I am not afraid. is infinitely stronger.’ Verse 7, “Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.” To smite the enemies on the cheekbone means to show reproach and contempt. The ungodly are like the animals or beast who strength lies in the teeth. Whereby they would devour the prey. So to break the teeth of the ungodly means to remove their power. David was very familiar with that. He had experienced how God had shown reproach and remove the power from his past enemies like the Philistines, Edomites and the Syrians. That was the reason why he prayed ‘save me O my God just like the way you had done in the past. Like the way you have done to my past enemies, like the Philistines, the Edomites, the Syrians. Lord, save me.’ Those of us who have prayed in time past and we have experienced the hands of God delivering us from our afflictions, from our troubles, from our enemies would be able to say the same thing as David - ‘Lord save me. Just like you have done in the past to all my afflictions. To all my troubles including my enemies who tried to sabotage the work I am doing. Save me just as you have done in the past.’ Remember at the beginning of our message, we mentioned that David was running away from his own son who was trying to kill him. His adviser, counsellor Ahithophel turned against him. Shimei was casting stones and cursing at him along the way. Did God save him from these people? These were his primary enemies. Did God save him? Most certainly. Well God caused Absalom to listen to bad advice. And then this Absalom failed to pursue after David and defeat his own father when he was weak. So when the battle was finally engaged, David was able to garner enough strength and prepare for it. His soldiers fought valiantly and they had a great victory. Twenty thousand men were killed including Absalom. It was very sad. His own son was killed. But God delivered him, didn’t he? What about Ahitophel? Well he was so sad that Absalom did not listen to his counsel he went and hang himself. What about Shimei? Shimei who had accursed David had to eat his words. He was humiliated before David in the presence of his own family and friends. Later on, he was killed by Solomon when he constantly rebelled against the authority. God was gracious to him during David’s time but finally he was killed by Solomon the son of David. The point is this – David trusted God and trusted all his concerns to God. God did not just give him the good night’s rest. God took care of everything. My friends, isn’t it wonderful to know that we have a God who will not only give us this rest that we all desire so much. Every night we go to bed, we wish that we would not carry our burdens to sleep. He is the only one who can sustains us. And not only will He sustain us, but He will take care of everything. That is our God. So much as so that David said this in verse 8, “Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.” Indeed, salvation is not because of our merits. It is not because of what we have done or not done. It is not because of our strength or abilities – none of that. It is truly God’s salvation. Salvation belongeth to God. Ephesians 2 verse 8 says this, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” So those people who are saved like you and me, there should never be any tinge of pride in us - none of that because salvation belongeth to God. It is all of God. It is a gift of God. He has given this gift to us that today we can call upon Him, Abba Father. We pray that our unbelieving loved ones will also be granted this gift of salvation that they would come to believe in God. And if they come to believe in God we must also bear in mind that it is not because of the way we presented the gospel, or because the preacher was very articulative, or because we are able to find the right time. The right opportunity – it is all God’s work. Salvation belongeth to God. He is the one who saves. We must always remember that in our lives. Again, the Psalmist closed with the word “Selah,” which means stop and think about this. Three times he said “Selah.” Stop and think about this. The first time he says stop and think that is in times of trouble. Instead of looking at the trouble, looking at the enemy, we turn our attention to God. Because if we look at the trouble, and just focus on the trouble and forget about God. The trouble becomes bigger and bigger. Soon, it will overwhelm us. But we would turn our attention to God. Focus on God - that is when the trouble becomes smaller and smaller. Because we know who our God is. Our God is infinitely stronger than all our problems. The second time the Psalmist say ‘stop and think’ is that God is our shield. He is our protector. He is the one who has lifted us up from our depression. Lifted up our heads that we can walk uprightly, that we will not live in shame. He answered our prayers. Pause and think. The third time he said “pause and think” is that God who has saved us spiritually, will he not save us physically, emotionally? Do you think God will forsake us and forget about us? if we need spiritual salvation, we cry out to God and He saved us. What about emotional salvation? What about financial salvation? What about physical salvation? We still cry out to God as well and He will help us. God will help us. The psalmist says, ‘Thy blessing is upon thy people.’
Those whom God has saved, He will not leave them alone. He will hear our prayers. He will come and save us. Whatever trouble you are facing today. Do not be afraid, our God is infinitely stronger than ten thousands of people. It is not because of our physical strength or any supernatural abilities we have. We are weak and frail.
But it is our God whom we believe in. He is strong – infinitely strong. So my friends, may we apply this message into our lives. Confidence in times of trouble does not rest in us. It rest in our God whom we believe in. If you have not believe in Jesus as your saviour and Lord, one life to live, once this life ends there’s no more opportunity. Once you swing into eternity, forever and ever you will be lost. You will be in the lake of fire.
Do not play a fool with your life. There’s only one Saviour – He’s none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. There’s only one person who died on the cross and is able to save you through the shedding of His precious blood and His death on that cross. If you reject Him, you will be lost. Come and believe in Him today for Salvation, and forever and ever you will be with Him. In the sweet by and by, we will meet again on that beautiful shore.
Let us pray. Father in Heaven, we thank Thee for this Psalm that we have considered. Indeed, Thou has taught us what we ought to do in times when we face such difficulties. We cannot fathom the pain that David was going through. Running way from his own son, Absalom. His trusted adviser and counsellor, Ahitophel and along the way people casting stones and cursing at him. Enemies are increasing, many are rising, many are saying to him even your God cannot save you. Oh Lord, we know that is a lie because our God will save us and He is infinitely stronger than all our enemies combined. All our troubles combined. He is stronger infinitely than ten thousands of people. We pray that we would take heed. We may not go through the same predicament as David but we have our own sets of troubles, problems, afflictions, enemies, and Thou who are omniscient knoweth all things, knoweth what we are going through.
Help us to be able to learn from this Psalm, that we express our troubles before Thee. And that we will also express our confidence in Thee. And that the outcome is that we will be able to express that the God whom we believe in has delivered us by Thy grace and mercy. Oh Lord, teach us to trust in Thee and trust all our concerns and care unto Thee. We give Thee thanks for enabling us to learn from tis Psalm. May the spirit of God work in our lives and help us to apply this Psalm so that we will walk just like David had walked with Thee. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.