Trust in God During Adversity
Have you ever faced trouble because of your righteous life? 2 Timothy 3:12 says, “All who desire to to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” All believers who seek to honour God by living obediently to His word will face opposition. In this psalm David is facing opposition to his rule as his adversaries are seeking his downfall.
David begins this psalm with with a cry out to the Lord (1-2). He laments the ongoing and hard trouble that he is experiencing. He emphasises the situation through repetition: “Many adversaries,” “many are rising up,” “many are saying.” They scoff and taunt him by saying that not even God can save him (2).
Yet David does not despair, for he puts his confidence in the Lord (3-6). God is his sure defence (shield), the origin of his glory as king, and the great Comforter who lifts his downcast head (3). He confidently knows that God has heard his prayers, and he rests soundly. God will sustain him at all times (4-5). Even though his adversaries are “many,” David is not afraid. The number of enemies is irrelevant against the power of Almighty God (6). Brethren, David is confident in God because of God’s word (2 Sam 7).
David concludes his psalm with a prayer for God to act on his behalf (7-8). He prays that God would “arise” as his enemies “rise up,” and save him from their evil (7). He is so confident that God will act that he sees it as a fait accompli. God has rebuked His enemies with a hard blow (smitten), and shattered them for their wickedness (7). David ends with the truth of the matter: Trust in God, for He is our protector and Saviour (8).