Psalm 3 is usually attributed to David in the time when he was running from his son, Absalom (2 Samuel 15), so the opening words are fitting and I’m sure this wasn’t the only time as king that he expressed the same sentiment about having many enemies. I would imagine many in high positions have thought the same thing – ‘there are so many people who are against me!’

That feeling isn’t reserved only for those in powerful positions though, it’s felt by many people, often and it can be keenly felt when we try hard to do the right thing when what we’re trying to do pushes against an entrenched wrong – people will push against us.

In the face of such opposition David expresses a faithfulness in God’s deliverance; that God will come to the aid of those who seek Him. That trust, interestingly, is connected to restful sleep in verse 5 of the Psalm. How often is our sleep destroyed when we’re distressed and then we see the sleep deprivation aggravate our oppressed feeling? Trust leads to the ability to rest. 

In my contemplation of Psalm 3 there’s another layer that is apparent to me, one that involves a more personal enemy – myself. I see the words of the enemies of the Psalmist in verse 2 and I hear my own thoughts, my own doubts and my own fears. When describing the words of the enemies of the Psalmist, Eugene Peterson’s Message version of the Bible says they were “roaring their mockery” – a fitting description. The NIV quotes them as saying “God will not deliver him” and the Message gives their words as “Hah! No help for him from God.”

I’ve thought those words of myself far too often – throwing off the trust that brings rest and allowing myself to be overcome by doubt. It has happened in times when I’ve pushed into issues that have sparked controversy and seen my inbox flooded with strongly worded complaints with some even praying for my death and whilst the opening of the Psalm could apply to all those complaints, it also equally applies to my inner conflict in those times.

Sadly, sometimes it doesn’t even take such heavy circumstances. Sometimes it happens in my quiet times of devotion in the mornings. Every now and then they can turn into a real struggle of doubt, frustration and even anger. It can seem like nothing has sparked it, but the struggle is very real. It can also happen when I’m speaking publicly – the doubt can creep in and God can seem really far away. It can happen in times when there is no apparent physical struggle. In those times the turmoil is close, personal and irrational. It’s a struggle of the inner being.

In those times when I become my own enemy I need to fall back on the truth of the Psalm and David’s trust in God – “Real help comes from God, your blessing clothes your people!” (MSG).

Being able to fall back on that truth doesn’t come automatically in times of trouble when my mind and heart can so easily descend into chaos. It comes by a cultivation of a closeness to God and it doesn’t happen instantly – it takes time. David was able to speak those words because his experience and relationship with God over the years up until that point made that truth apparent. I can’t float along in life thinking that when trouble comes along I’m just going to trust. By engaging spiritual disciplines we sow the seeds of that type of strength in the tough times.

May we be people who constantly cultivate lives that deeply know the truth of God’s help in times of trouble.

Read more of my reflections on the Psalms.

Here’s why I’m walking this journey through the Psalms.