Written by: Neville Barnes - Church Army
Psalm 3 v 1-4
LORD, I have many enemies!
Many people have turned against me.
Many are saying about me,
“God won’t rescue him.”
But, LORD, you are my shield,
my wonderful God who gives me courage.
I will pray to the LORD,
and he will answer me from his holy mountain.
Notes
Praying when things just can’t get any worse.
Is there someone or something that has left you feeling 'things just cant get any worse'. If that is the case then you may feel powerless to do very much about it. You may not feel up to facing the hassle of trying to sort it out or take charge of the situation. If that is you then psalm 3 is exactly what you need. In Psalm 3 David is in trouble and when things cant get any worse then he prays his trouble to God.
David had lost everything that meant the most to him. In effect he lost his job (as King), his family, his friends, he was a wanted man in every tribe in Israel and now he was running away from a son who was actively trying to kill him. David now begins to pray his trouble.
He prays how he sees and feels about things
There is very little faith knocking around in verse 2, just sheer honesty. He tells it like it is, actually his descriptions is an understatement but by the end of verse 2 he reaches a turning point when he tells God what people have been saying, 'God will not deliver him'. Suddenly he is faced with a choice. If God cannot help us in our trouble then we really are in trouble, there is no point having faith and you waste time praying. If God can help us then it is time to pray knowing that our circumstances do not have the final say in the outcome of things.
David prayed what his faith saw.
This is the turning point, he could keep picking over the situation and telling God what he finds but that wont change things. If faith can move mountain then it would take prayer with faith, but how do we do that? David looked to see what God could see then turned it into prayer. Instead of praying for protection, he prayed, you already protect me. Instead of asking for his name to be cleared, he acknowledge that he was already right before God. Instead of praying for help to prove himself he acknowledged God would lift him up. Nothing in his circumstances changed except he had changed, that tipped the balance in his favour, his focus was now on God not the trouble he was in. He got through but not without some tears and pain.
What about you?
Try telling God about your situation like it is feeling, what's been done or said. Ask God to help you see things from his view, maybe you could turn verse 3 into your own prayer.
Psalm 3 v 4-8
I can lie down and go to sleep,
and I will wake up again,
because the LORD gives me strength.
Thousands of troops may surround me,
but I am not afraid.
LORD, rise up!
My God, come save me!
You have struck my enemies on the cheek;
you have broken the teeth of the wicked.
The LORD can save his people.
LORD, bless your people.
Notes
In Psalm 3 vs. 1-4 David has prayed a fairly urgent prayer, in v 3 he states what God will do on his behalf. Faith rises up in him to such an extent that he is able to have a good nights sleep. He sleeps knowing that his Son who has stolen his throne will come in the morning with thousands of soldiers in order to kill him and what friends he has left.
It is very easy to be focused on our circumstances or the people who influence us. We feel our lives are not normal while fear controls us and we pretend all is well. We wish we were more like our friends, theirs lives seem normal, and some haven't had a good nights sleep in quite a while because of the things that trouble us.
Verse 5 says, 'I can lie down and go to sleep I will wake up again', he realises that he cant go on in his own strength.
So where do we find the strength to keep going?
The core of verse 5 and 6 is, 'the Lord gives me strength' verse 5 covers the night, verse 6 the day. He see God as the strength behind 'normality' the strength to make the impossible possible. It sinks in that it isn't the world versus David, it is the world versus God. David knows who the odds are stacked against. (now you know why he can sleep so well).
Let me use an example from David's life. When the Israelites faced the army of philistines they were filled with fear, they saw how small they were in relation to the size of Goliath. When David shows up he sees what the others are blind to. He sees how small Goliath is in relation to the immeasurable size of God. In that context fear has to release its paralysing powerful grip in submission to a greater more powerful presence -- God! If God be for us who can stand against us.
Psalm 4 v 1-4
Answer me when I pray to you,
my God who does what is right.
Make things easier for me when I am in trouble.
Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
People, how long will you turn my honor into shame?
How long will you love what is false and look for new lies?
You know that the LORD has chosen for himself those who are loyal to him.
The LORD listens when I pray to him.
When you are angry, do not sin.
Think about these things quietly
as you go to bed.
Notes
What makes you angry?
Anger is an emotion that provokes a response, but is it OK to be angry? How should we respond? Bible scholars think this psalm may have been written during a period of drought in the land in the fear of famine people were resorting to the gods and idols of other nations to see if that would help. By verse 2 of this psalm David is really angry with his people, that anger he turns into the prayer which is Psalm 4.
David is angry because his people have made him lose face and he will be viewed in a bad light. (part of that was that God would also lose face). verse 2, 'people how long will you turn my honour into shame?' Does that sound familiar, getting angry because we are embarrassed or have lost face because of what someone else has said or done. You may know the expression, 'don't get angry, get even'. The Bible doesn't have a problem with us getting angry, however there is a problem with trying to get even. What does David do? He doesn't get even, he talks to God about what has made him angry and challenges the people who make him angry to live differently.
David prays his anger
In verse 1 he lays his case before God knowing God wont take sides but will do what is right. Being angry can get you into all sorts of trouble, so David prays for things to be easier.
David takes a stand.
In verse 3 he takes a stand, but not against those who make him angry. His stand is one of commitment that even if no-one else will, he will live in line with Gods character. The result is people know they are not living up to what is expected of them.
David handles anger like a dangerous explosive
In verse 4 David's advice, before you do or say anything, pray then think over your own motives, you could be in the right with wrong motives or even worse it might be you in the wrong.
Psalm 4 v 5-8
Do what is right as a sacrifice to the LORD
and trust the LORD.
Many people ask,
“Who will give us anything good?”
LORD, be kind to us.
But you have made me very happy,
happier than they are,
even with all their grain and new wine.
I go to bed and sleep in peace,
because, LORD, only you keep me safe.
Notes
Recently I spoke to some students, they said the biggest pressures they face are relationships, success, drugs and alcohol, some Christian students said, "these are the pressures we all face, but our friends actually want them. Sometimes we find it hard not to want the same things and remain friends. It can be really hard to be a Christian, to live like God wants".
Psalm 3 has 2 prayers with 2 outcomes. The first prayer and answer is in verse 6, "who will give us anything good" (longing for the good times) the answer in verse 7 is "all their grain and new wine" (life could not get any better). The second prayer is by David in verse 6, "Lord be kind" (he longs for God). The answer is in verse 7, "you have made me very happy", verse 8, rest peace and safety (he finds internally what cant be guaranteed externally).
What does God want? I don't think he wants to prevent us having a good time or a happy life, but like those students he knows there is more to it than that. There is also a life inside that needs to be lived. Good times don't last forever. Bad or unexpected things do happen. God is concerned that we have that inner life to get us through.
Some of you have been swimming in life and it has felt good. Now the waves are breaking so hard over you that suddenly you feel out of your depth and control. The best thing you can do is dive under the wave and swim for shore. Verse 5 is diving under the wave, "do what is right as a sacrifice to the Lord and trust the Lord". You may need a change of heart in your actions, your attitude and your faith.
Matthew 1 v 18-19
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. His mother Mary was engaged to marry Joseph, but before they married, she learned she was pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Because Mary’s husband, Joseph, was a good man, he did not want to disgrace her in public, so he planned to divorce her secretly.
Notes
There are times in my life I need Jesus to be human, just like me, then I think he really knows how I feel. At other times I need Jesus to be God, to come powerfully do something dramatic, sort out my problems and while he is at it show everyone exactly who he is. If Jesus was only one that would give me a get out clause from life as a Christian. On one hand I could live as I wanted, after all I am only human, or cut myself of from life to be more Godly. I follow the character, life and example of someone who was all sold out for humanity and all sold out for God. How can I do that?
There is an expression, 'start as you mean to go on' that describes Matt. 1 verse 18-19 perfectly. God started as he meant to go on.
If Jesus started as he meant to go on what does that mean for you?
God limited himself to using humans in order to accomplish his plan. He started with Mary, he continued with Mary and from Mary and the Holy Spirit came Jesus. Some people don't like the thought that Mary should be so involved, but how else could Jesus be so human, Mary was essential. Let me encourage you. God has started with you, he will continue with you and he will accomplish what he has planned for you. Not only that but through you somehow you will be contributing your part to the overall plan of things. If God involves us then you will not turn out like that Christian who seems so 'holy' to you. Because you are unique and because God will not by pass who you are, there can never be another Christian like you again, you cannot become a category, boxed or typical. (If you want boxed come to N.Ireland where I live). The other person in this is the Holy Spirit. God started as he meant to go on. You are the vehicle of God, the Holy Spirit is in you, not just to start something but to continue and finish. I don't know how well you relate to Mary. God could have Zapped Jesus into existence, zapped Sin and left. No He and Mary both took a risk. If God has started in your life, how do you think he means to go on?
Matthew 1 v 20-21
While Joseph thought about these things, an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, descendant of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the baby in her is from the Holy Spirit.
She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Notes
If Mary had said No to the angel, If Joseph had said no to the angel, what would have been the outcome for them?
If they had said No, they could have had a family the 'acceptable' way. People would have greeted them warmly on the street. They could have a good thriving business. Old age together with happy memories. By and large a good life if they said No. But they said Yes!
Yes meant Jesus being part of there lives. Yes meant a life of people talking behind their backs, spending their first years of married life as refugees, being the source of embarrassment to friends and family. Yes had fingers pointing and tongues wagging. Yes for Mary meant a Life of pain. Luke 2 v 35 calls that pain a sword at her heart. Yes meant a whole town grieved after the murder of all their children.
To say Yes is costly, Jesus tells us to count the cost before we follow him. If we say Yes then we follow in the footsteps of Mary and Joseph. Jesus is born in us, a very costly birth. Saying yes may cost us our reputation, saying Yes may cost us our friends. Yes may cost us a glittering future. We may find it does not cost these things but we need to be ready if it does.
There is one encouragement in this passage. In verse 21 saying Yes will cost us our sin. As the Life of Jesus grows in us, as we repeatedly say yes to him, the thing which would eventually be the death of us (sin) begins its own death and we, well we begin to live. They said Yes. What would it cost you to say yes? Is Jesus asking you to say Yes to something?
Matthew 1 v 22-25
All this happened to bring about what the Lord had said through the prophet:
“The virgin will be pregnant. She will have a son, and they will name him Immanuel,” which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph woke up, he did what the Lord’s angel had told him to do. Joseph took Mary as his wife, but he did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to the son. And Joseph named him Jesus.
Notes
800 years earlier a prophecy had been given by Isaiah (Isa. 7 v 14) about the birth of Immanuel (which means God with us. Isaiah said one day a true Immanuel person would come and God once again would truly be with us.
I don't know how excited Joseph got after he woke, but dreaming about an angel and Immanuel's imminent arrival must have been one for the books. It was something for Joseph to hang onto when all the criticism came, when he wondered what was going on as they left their home, then there nation. I can only imagine that he often held onto the dream in spite of the circumstances. I am glad that Immanuel is more than a Christmas story, Immanuel is the reality for us every day of the year.
The problem isn't Immanuel, it is our inability to be like Joseph, to wake up and take on the whole package. To put it another way, have you ever felt that God is ready to give up on you, maybe you don't feel confident in your faith, you stumble, maybe fall. Do you ever feel that you have stepped beyond God because you have failed yet again. Don't be too amazed that when your faith is all but done, God is with you. When your faith is strong he is with you. So if Immanuel and all its implications is only dependent on God it will always be true and cannot change. Rather than waiting for God to be with you, rather than praying for God to be with you, rather than hoping he is with you, stop waiting, praying, hoping for something that is already true and start practising it to be true and start living it as true.
word-on-the-web uses the Scripture text taken from the Youth Bible, New Century Version
(Anglicised Edition) copyright 1993 by Word Publishing Milton Keynes