Psalm 3, a prayer when it seems everything is against you!

The heading in the version of the Bible I used to read this psalm says, it was written when David was running away from Jerusalem after his 3rd son Absalom had rebelled and proclaimed himself king.
To make matters worse Ahithophel, one of David’s closest advisors, joined the plot.

It’s not difficult to imagine what David must have felt like, and it’s no wonder that he prayed ‘So many people have turned against me’.
If you have ever been betrayed, undermined or abandoned by family, friends or colleagues, then this psalm probably reflects some of the feelings that you experienced. However, David managed to put his confidence in God and knew that whatever people said, or whatever happened, God would be with him.

God values honesty and openness and is waiting for us to cry out to him.

Psalm 3 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
A song of David written during the time he was running from his son Absalom.
1 Lord, I have so many enemies.
So many people have turned against me.
2 They say to themselves, “God will not rescue him!” Selah
3 But you, Lord, protect me.
You bring me honour;
you give me hope.
4 I will pray to the Lord,
and he will answer me from his holy mountain. Selah
5 I can lie down to rest and know that I will wake up,
because the Lord covers and protects me.
6 So I will not be afraid of my enemies,
even if thousands of them surround me.
7 Lord, get up![a]
My God, come rescue me!
If you hit my enemies on the cheek,
you will break all their teeth.
8 Lord, the victory[b] is yours!
You are so good to your people. Selah

Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International

Prayer

Lord, there are times when I feel under such pressure I just want to run away.
Nobody seems to understand and everybody seems to want to criticise me and put me down.

When everything seems to be going wrong and I feel that there is no one help, I will turn to you. Deep down I know you are my helper and when I pray you will answer.

Thank you, Lord that you do shelter and protect me. And, even when bad things happen you have not abandoned me. Help me find your rest and give me sleep even though I feel exhausted and besieged.

Lord please act now and break through with your help

Thank you that you are good and that other peoples’ scheming will not win.

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