Psalm 3:7-8

Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God!

For Thou has smitten all my enemies on the cheek;

Thou has shattered the teeth of the wicked.

Salvation belongs to the Lord;

Thy blessing be upon Thy people!

Perspective and Hope

That is what I believe these verses are talking about. I love the phrase "Arise, O Lord". I believe this is the same idea that we covered yesterday. When we utter the phrase "O, God!" when something happens, although this is in a more direct reverent way. Arise, or take your position and show yourself. The acknowledgment that when God reveals himself, the situation will change. This is the cry for God to glorify himself, and the acknowledgement that only He can save us.

Alot of times we are tempted to run to other things to try to save us. Friends, Family, Relationships, or retail therapy. Yet all fall short and are limited. In this verse the cry is targeted towards the one who is limitless and all powerful.

The next phrase is a strong one. Some may think it disturbing because of the violent imagery. I love the insight that Matthew Henry gives in his commentary on the verse: "That God had often broken the power and restrained the malice of his enemies, had smitten them upon the cheek-bone (v. 7), had silenced them and spoiled their speaking, blemished them and put them to shame, smitten them on the cheek reproachfully, had disabled them to do the mischief they intended; for he had broken their teeth". The teeth in this culture and still in many cultures in the region are a symbol of pride and of strength. For one to shatter the teeth of another is to remove this symbol. This verse shows the supremacy of God and His ability to frustrate, incapcitate the efforts of the enemy.

I love the closing of this Psalm - Salvation belongs to the Lord; Thy blessing be upon Thy people!

This is were our hope rest. Hope during this time was defined differently the how we use it now. Hope now is basically the equivelent of wish. I hope it doesn't rain, for example. However during this age and in the way it is used in scripture it is better defined as a future certainty rather than a wish. Salvation does belong to God, this is certain. Not something that you have to wish for. His blessing do rest upon His people, we don't wish that they would. So, we have a fixed hope in Christ, a certain future and reality that helps us to persevere during trial.

In this Psalm God has granted us perspective and hope. I pray that these truths would be certainties in your life and change the way you live, not just merely nice things to remember occassionally.

Soli Deo Gloria

Only for the Glory of God!

Thanks for reading,

B