LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. 8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. Psalm 3:1-7 We live in a world today that easily becomes quite depressing when viewed through righteous eyes. It seems as if everyday, news reports are filled with stories of violent assaults, senseless murders, gruesome deaths, scandals and child abuse, not to mention the increase in brutal attacks upon Christians. As a matter of fact, if we were to focus just on crimes against the people of God alone, it would appear as if our own country was attempting to systematically eradicate the influence of fundamental Christianity and the precepts upon which it was founded from our Judeo-Christian heritage and culture. Notice in verses 1 and 2 in our text above that David exclaims “how are they increased that trouble me!”. It would appear as if David felt the same way as we might today. Examine the apparent increase of His/our Enemies. We now see daily the enemies of the Word of God rising from the depths of Hell from all sides, attempting to encompass the faithful witnesses whose beliefs and faith are in the ways of Christ. Nevertheless, we should not be troubled or afraid, nor surprised as it has been recorded (better yet, prophesied), “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” (II Timothy 3:13) and that “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” (I Timothy 4:1-2) We are also told, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God...” (II Timothy 3:1-4) in addition to “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of...” (II Peter 3:3-5). Numerous other verses attest to the fact that in the latter days, the end times in which we now live, people will become mockers, scorners, despisers, and deniers, willingly refusing to give heed and understanding to the perfect Word of God. So why do we treat this as such a shock? We have been warned. Why do we stagger, appalled at the moral decay in the world today? David was dispirited by the increase his enemies seemed to enjoy as they surrounded him and exclaimed that there would be no help for him in God. Oh, how far from the truth that would be! Beloved friends, the Lord is our Encourager. David proclaims the Lord as “the lifter up of mine head” in verse 3. In times of discouragement, despair and depression, it is the Lord who is our lifter and our encourager. He is the One who allows our hearts and minds to refocus on Him as the Lord of our lives and to be encouraged that we are never alone. In spite of what occurs around us, it is the Lord who lifts us up, renews our courage and carries us away from the hopelessness of situations that may seem to overwhelm. The Lord is our encourager as He is also our Enabler. In verses 4 and 5, David cried unto the Lord who, in His grace, heard him, sustaining him in the midst of his trials and tribulations. What great comfort is found today in the fact that no matter what troubles may erupt in our lives, we can focus on the Lord, go to Him in prayer to be encouraged and enabled to carry on in the life we have in this world. How often though do we focus on the Lord in the midst of problems and challenges? Herein lies the root cause of why trouble affects us so profoundly in our lives. Day in and day out, we should have a building relationship with God, for He is our Eternal. Rather than looking to the Lord only during times when our enemies and adversaries become more numerous and circumstances grow dark, we should remain focused on Him daily, looking toward Heaven and the glorious future that awaits us as we expend our lives in this very temporal world encouraged by the influences of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. How do you suppose this could be achieved? Read with me Psalms 4:4 which says,“Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.” When was the last time we paused to reflect in awe upon Who and What our Lord is? With all of the distractions of the toys of technology and high-definition entertainment in the world today, it becomes ever more difficult to be impressed or moved by what we see and hear. Too often this tendency masks God's blessings and the great and wonderful things the Lord has done, is doing and will do for us. Daily His hand is seen, down to the most insignificant of events. Our meals, for example, are not a guarantee, but for most of us the Lord provides food and nutrition in excess of our daily needs. When was the last time we stopped to gratefully consider God's generosity in all that He has provided for us beyond the miraculous work of salvation? We must not overlook the gifts and "coincidences" that should encourage us to trust in the Lord, nor forget to appreciate the smallest blessings (that become large losses when not accepted), that are bestowed upon us throughout our lives.
Let us be encouraged in that our Lord is our Eternal, providing daily as Encourager and Enabler in midst of our Enemy. Thank you, Lord!
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