Wednesday, Jan. 12 (Psalm 3-5

Psalm 3
Absalom was David's son who inspired to be King. David wrote Psalm 3 after he had fled from Absalom. It was in the morning that David thanked God for a safe night. Absalom and the people were saying that "God will not save David".
(Vs 1-2) So after David fled, he was frightened and prayed for help. It's important to recognize that David paused (Selah) within his prayer - this shows that it gave him time to remember the faithfulness of God and to listen to what God had to say to him during his prayer.
(Vs 3-6) Because, David then says that "...You are a shield around me..." and '...He answers me from His holy hill". His prayer takes a turn to the positive and encouraging nature. When our perspective dwells on what is around us, we do have reason for concern and fear. But, when we, as David did, remember the promises and the faithfulness of God, our perspective rises upward and we can rejoice in who God is and what God will do and has done. So David prays for God to be is Shield and wants to see the glory of God. David says in vs 5, "I lie down and sleep..." because he knows that God will watch over him.
(Vs 7-8) David actually is rejoicing in the Lord. God has turned his fear into praise, because David through this process has realized that blessing and deliverance is in the Lord.

The bridge from the song Blessed Be Your Name
"You give and take away, You give and take away.
My heart will choose to say, "Lord, Blessed be Your name".

Psalm 4
(Vs 1 -2) David again prays for the situation he is in and for God to hear him - God knows where we are and what we are going through, however, He still wants us to bring our troubles to Him. David has in his mind what he wants to say to the leaders of God's enemies ("Sons of man") and asking for God's blessing. (Selah - pause)
(Vs 3-4) David is telling the "Sons of man", you can't win - because you're not fighting me, you're fighting God. The God which has chosen David as king. David continues to tell them that he has God's ear and will listen to David's requests. David also knows that what he tells them is going to make them angry - so he tells them "...when you are on your beds, search your hearts..." which he's saying, you can argue your position in your thoughts - but then he has a warning - "... be silent" don't you dare speak aloud against God. (Selah -pause)
(Vs 5-8) David then is filled with joy in what the LORD will do and finds contentment within his circumstance. In vs 8 David says "I will lie down and sleep in peace...". That's great, but remember, David is still hiding out - he is still in the circumstance that Absalom has drove him into, but David is rejoicing because he is dwelling within his God.

From the song Blessed Be Your Name
"Blessed be Your name ... in the land that is plentiful.
... when I'm found in the desert place.
... when the sun's shining down on me.
... on the road marked with suffering.

Psalm 5
Is another Psalm/Song written in the morning. Not actually sure when David wrote it, but David is praying about his enemies.
(vs 1-3) David prays in the morning and asks again for God to hear his prayer. David is not only praying, but tells God that he will be looking for the answers to his prayer.
(vs 4-6) David speaks out a witness that he knows and rejoices in who God is and what His attributes are against his enemies.
(vs 7-8) Lord, I will follow You - even though my enemies are making it difficult for me to obey You - "make straight Your way before me".
(vs 9-10) Open graves are filthy and smell - David know what comes from their mouths can't be truth and their deceit is sickening.
(vs 11-12) Again, David closes with rejoicing in who God is and does for those who are His and desires to rest in Him.

There's trouble everywhere and there will always be. Our world is a place of fallen men, deceitful thoughts and men who will acted on those thoughts. Our only hope is finding our rest and refuge in God alone - there's nothing we have, that we can add to help God.

One last line from Blessed Be Your Name
"Every blessing You pour out, I'll turn back to praise.
When the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say, Blessed be the name of the Lord"