Faith for deliverance

For the full context of this post read Psalm 3.

David penned the words to Psalm 3 during a time when he feared for his life because his son and best friend had betrayed him and wanted to kill him. It goes without saying that he was having a bad day! Fear, anger, panic, and uncertainty filled his heart. Many of us know those feelings right now. We’re not full of emotion because someone wants to kill us, but we are full of emotion because we are acutely aware that something could kill us, and maybe has already killed some of our dearest loved ones. Like David, we’re fearing for our lives. Read David’s prayer.

1 Lord, how many are my foes!

How many rise up against me!

2 Many are saying of me,

“God will not deliver him.”

3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,

my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

4 I call out to the Lord,

and he answers me from his holy mountain.

5 I lie down and sleep;

I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.

6 I will not fear though tens of thousands

assail me on every side.

7 Arise, Lord!

Deliver me, my God!

Strike all my enemies on the jaw;

break the teeth of the wicked.

8 From the Lord comes deliverance.

May your blessing be on your people.

David knew what people were saying. He knew people didn’t think God would deliver him. We know what people are saying and we know the predicted outcomes from this pandemic. David held the same uncertainties about life that we do. He didn’t know that God would deliver him. Rather, he had to hold on to what he did know. David knew that the Lord was shield around him. David knew that the Lord would answer him when he called. David knew that even with fear and panic in his heart, he could lie down and find rest because the Lord would sustain him. David knew that from the Lord comes deliverance.

David proclaimed “I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side.” I am certain that David did fear. He chose to speak faith out loud and trust that God would deliver him, whatever that might look like, even through his fear. What do we need to proclaim? “God I will not fear though thousands are sick on every side of me.” The fact is I do fear. I fear for my parents. I fear for my children. I fear for my sister, a heroine and first responder. I chose to speak faith out loud and trust God will deliver us, whatever that might look like, even through my fear.