“The Lifter of My Head”

BIBLE READING: Psalm 1-7

                As you begin to read and enjoy the book of Psalms, you will see that a few of them have somewhat of an introduction or instruction that is mentioned at the beginning.  It usually sounds something like “To the Choirmaster…” or a “Psalm of David” with a brief description about why or when the psalm was written.  It is the latter that seems most interesting because it gives you some background as to the emotions David was experiencing as he was writing the Psalm.  That is especially true when we read and begin a study of Psalm 3.  This psalm was written when David had to leave Jerusalem because of the threat that Absalom was presenting to him.  The fear and pain that David was experiencing was almost unbearable; in knowing that your own son had turned on you and was seeking your life.  Notice, I said “almost unbearable”.  David did feel overwhelmed, but the Lord was able to help him endure the pain and fear he was experiencing.  “O LORD, how may are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul here is no salvation for him in God.  But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory and the lifter of my head” (Psalm 3.1-3).  How many foes do you have in your life?  Do you have any enemies that are seeking to take your life, or drive you away from your home?  Probably not, at least not in the same way that David had.  If fact, I believe most of us do have hundreds of foes, if not thousands.  Although these foes are not trying to take your life, they are certainly trying to steal our joy.  We discover these foes in the recesses of our minds, and they creep into our lives in the form of negative thoughts.  It has been said that the average person can have up to 30,000 thoughts enter their mind on any given day, and most of those thoughts are negative in nature. These thoughts sound something like, “you’re not good enough”, “no one likes you”, “You are worthless”. If we are not careful, these thoughts will take us captive, instead of us taking them captive.  Although these negative thoughts and feelings can be powerful and seem almost unbearable, they are not!  Because we have the same defense that David had, our Lord is “shield about me, my glory and the lifter of my head”.  Whenever our mind becomes flooded and overwhelmed with negative thoughts and emotions, we can turn to the Creator of the Universe and seek out his protection and attention. It is God alone who gives us the power to transform our thinking by regeneration of our minds from prayer and Scripture.  No matter how many foes or negative thoughts we have, He continues to be our shield and the lifter of my head.