2005-03-13 - The Consequences of Sin

Psalm 3, Part 2

Knowing the background of the Psalm, we understand that no matter our circumstances, even when of our own making, we can trust in the Lord for our salvation. David was forgiven for his sin because he repented.

"Then David said to Nathan, 'I have sinned against the Lord'" (2 Samuel 12:13).

While he was living with the consequences, he had the freedom to go to God for assistance.

A psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom.

² O Yahweh, how many are my adversaries! How many who rise up against me!
³ How many who eye my life! "No salvation for him from God." Selah
⁴ But you, O Yahweh, are my Suzerain as long as I live, my Glorious One who lifts high my head.
⁵ If with full voice I call to Yahweh; he answers me from his holy mountain. Selah
⁶ If I lie down to sleep, I shall wake up, for Yahweh sustains me.
⁷ I fear not the shafts of people deployed against me on every side.
⁸ Rise up, O Yahweh, save me, my God! O that you yourself would smite
  All my foes on the jaw! Smash the teeth of the wicked!
⁹ O Yahweh, salvation! upon your people your blessing! Selah

Verses 1-2: First let's take a look at the text itself. Next, we will see what it has to say to us. David expresses his awareness of his situation. Every day, more of Israel has turned against him because of Absalom's treachery.

David also notes many are saying God will not assist him. One could speculate that numerous Hebrews were aware of the words God spoke through Nathan. It may have been because David was warned these incidents were to occur, that men expected he could not depend on any assistance from the Lord. David obviously didn't believe he was precluded from this dependency because he had sinned, for he also had repented and been forgiven.

So often, people decide what God will or won't do. We all know AIDS is God's direct judgment on homosexuals, right? Wrong! Personally, I haven't heard anything from God to that effect. Men have claimed to be going to war because God is behind them, except the only place I can find where He ever sent anyone into battle was in the Old Testament. Even I, in my most intolerant moods, have felt like telling God which "Christian" leader should be removed for the sake of the body. It seems the Lord will decide for Himself how to respond, and this is what David is counting on.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declare the Lord.˜ As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts'" (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Shield has been defined as: "The word in the original signifies more than a shield; it means a buckler round about, a protection which shall surround a man entirely, a shield above, beneath around, without and within. Oh! what a shield is God for his people."

To be continued.

Comments or Questions?
Geoff

GKragen@aol.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org