Down to Glory (Psalm 3)

Every misbehavior of David's older sons has to wring from David's heart a confession of his own sin.  This is most likely why, when Absalom was killed, that David mourned so greatly and so pitiably.  If he, David, had died for his sin with Bathsheba, then perhaps his sons would not have died under the curse of evil and violence that God laid upon his family after that sin.  But, in the midst of the evil, and the reminder of his own sin seen in it, David cries out to God and paradoxically is saved and vindicated!

Psalm 3:  A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son. 

LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.  Many are they who say of me, "There is no help for him in God."

Selah.

But you, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the one who lifts up my head.  I cried to the LORD with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill.

Selah. 

I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.  I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. 

Arise, O LORD; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.  Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people.

Selah.

The last thing we should do with this psalm is to imagine David, sitting calmly in his theological complacency, so full of "faith" that his heart is untouched with pain or passion.

One can be sure that he feels the threat and hears the voices that testify to him that his case is hopeless, that his house is fallen, and that by his own fault.  In fact, he feels the threat of doom so strongly that he cries out to God.  He cries in faith, to be sure.  But he cries.  And, the cry is heard!  However far away that holy hill is (behind him in Jerusalem, now dominated by Absalom) or even that hill of heaven of which Jerusalem is only the footstool, his puny voice was heard, because he cried to the God of his salvation -- the God of promise who promised him the house and family that would lead to Messiah -- in spite of all present appearances.

David is shielded; he is comforted.  He sleeps well, because the comfort of his God has come to him.  Now he fears nothing.  He calls upon his God for deliverance, and expects it!  In fact, even as he flees, vindication is certain.  It has already come in the language of the psalm.  And, in the end, it will appear!

There is a curious consequence of the blessing and the curse that have fallen upon David's family.  It is this.  Both the promise and the curse falling upon David's family due to his sin eventually falls upon the Greater Son of David.  The promised Son, the "final member" of the holy and eternal line of Kings, dies too -- and for sin!  The promise of life, and the curse of death, meet in this Man.  Both the promise and the doom reach their complete fulfillment.  But, death is swallowed up in victory!  By omnipotence evil is made to serve the good!  There is total deliverance in glory!

So it is for us sinners to who trust in the Lord. David's experience is so often the "look and feel" of our own calling.  But, take heart!  No matter how black it looks, never stop serving the Lord!  Beyond the suffering, the despair and what seems to be personal failure is vindication for the believer and glory in the Lord!  Wait for it!