Songs for the Road
Thursday (October 2)
Songs for the Road
Psalm 3:3
But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
I first heard this verse sung by my sister’s college choir at Liberty University many years ago, and the beautiful chorus comes back to my mind often. But I didn’t know till now that David wrote these gorgeous, unforgettable verses while fleeing for his life from his wicked son Absalom. That’s right: David penned these words in his journal after learning of his own son’s conspiracy to seize the throne. 2 Samuel 15 recounts Absalom’s attempted coup, how he spent four years as an arbiter at the city gate covertly bribing citizens to follow after him, making false assurances and sowing seeds of discord over his father’s administration; and hundreds, perhaps thousands of men fell for it hook, line, and sinker. By the time Absalom sent out the secret signal to begin the attack, a mob of fighting men had already rushed to his aid, ready to hail him king. So put yourself in David’s place here. Can you even begin to fathom how painful this scenario must be? Fleeing from a rival king is difficult enough. But being hunted by your own son is a pain too great to express. No wonder the author of 2 Samuel 15:3 describes David’s expression in these vivid terms: “But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went.”
Hands down, this is one of the lowest points in David’s spiritual biography. He’s poorer now than he was as a young shepherd boy. No shoes, no kingly raiment, no regal crown; just a black cloth for mourning. Yet, even here, even with head down and coat drenched in tears and sackcloth over his head, he’s able to somehow pen the words, “But You, O LORD, are a shield about me! My glory, and the lifter of my head!” What a resiliency of faith! How remarkable this change of demeanor! Even in the midst of deep anguish, David can see the silver lining of God’s smiling face just above the black, billowing clouds.
Oh friend, no matter where your next step of faith leads you today, sing Psalm 3:3 as you go.