The One Who Lifts My Head

"But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head."  Psalm3:3

The psalmist is alarmed, and is taken aback by the number of enemies that have laid siege to his well-being.  Those who trouble him have increased without apology.  It is his perspective that "many are they who rise up against me (v.1)."  There is the solitary "I" against the "many" who threaten to overthrow the sacred space.  The psalmist has found out that his enemies do not care about his cultivated sacred space.

His solitude is of no concern to his enemies.  They see his resolve to live for God and they therefore initiate exquisite torture of him.  They marshal a collective and dismal assault upon his faith.  They attack him through a spurious theological proposition.  They launch an attack upon his heart.  They say, "There is no help for him in God (v.2)."  Your faith in God is precious.  It is the treasure that sets you apart and makes you the target of tenacious opposition.

His enemies want to eat him up with words dipped in the poison of acrimony.  They are masters of theological darkness.  They carefully watch to see if their words have taken root in your soul and watch you grimace and writhe as the poison makes its way through your heart.  They administer spiritual curare so that you become paralyzed and unable to move.  You can only watch your misery.

 Their collective candor about you is chillingly destructive.  But you have a resource at your disposal that they cannot imagine.  The secret of the Almighty is with those who trust him.  The eyes of the LORD run to and fro through the earth beholding the good (tob) and evil (ra).

In spite of their efforts to supplant your life, you stand because it is with you.  He is your shield right at this very moment. He is protecting you from your enemies because you are trusting in Him.  Stand fast and let God lead you to victory by faith.  God is the One who lifts up your head.

Are you hurting today because soul-damaging words have been spoken about you?  Or are you still hurting over something that was said about you in the past?

You need to give those hurtful words that have become embedded within your psyche to God.  Surrender ownership of these hurtful words through forgiveness.  Forgiveness is the snakebite kit for the spiritual life.  Forgiveness is the antidote that also cleanses the wound left by our sinful reactions to those who have sinned against us.

Blessings to you.

For more information about Dr. Rich's teaching ministry, please visit his website.