A Morning Prayer: Help For Those Afraid of Shame (Psalm 3)

Read Psalm 3

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

¹ O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; ² many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah

³ But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. ⁴ I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

⁵ I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me. ⁶ I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.

⁷ Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. ⁸ Salvation belongs to the LORD; your blessing be on your people! Selah

Understand Psalm 3:

I. The Psalmist’s Predicament (vv. 1-2)

The superscript informs us that David’s very life is in danger (2 Sam 15-18) and he is surrounded by enemies who speak falsely against him. Sometimes anxiety keeps us up at night when we struggle with the fear of man or the fear of life’s problems. People may oppose us, disagree with us, or even fight with us. Such conflicts might fill our hearts with feelings of shame or regret when reminded of our sin. These accusations can even turn our hopes away from God.[1]

II. The Psalmist’s Protection (vv. 3-4)

“But you” signals the turning point in this psalm when David directs his heart to the Lord, Yahweh. The covenant God, is his shield (protection), his glory (identity), and the lifter of his head (restorer). Thus, David cries aloud in prayer as he acknowledges these truths. So also, we cry out to our trustworthy God who promises to answer us in our pain.

III. The Psalmist’s Peace (vv. 5-6)

Psalm 3 reflects David’s prayer the morning after a good night’s sleep. He praises the Lord for supernatural peace though surrounded by countless enemies. Likewise, we too receive God’s rest as we trust in our Creator and Sustainer who neither sleeps nor slumbers (Ps 121:3-4). So next time, instead of counting sheep when we have trouble sleeping, let us try talking with our Shepherd.

IV. The Psalmist’s Petition (vv. 7-8)

David prays that the Lord would act on his behalf. Yet from where would salvation come? How would the Lord grant blessings to a sinful people who had broken his covenant? The answer, which David did not fully know, was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Son of David and the Son of God.

Jesus too was surrounded on all sides by a multitude of enemies and betrayed by his closest friends. Many also said of his soul, “There is no salvation for him in God” (Ps 3:2). “Save yourself,” they mocked him scornfully, “If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross” (Matt 27:40b).

Yet the Lord God was Jesus’ shield, his glory, and the lifter of his head (Ps 3:3). His Father saved him not from a horrid death, but through the new life of resurrection. By taking our judgment, therefore, Jesus accomplished our salvation. By bearing his Father’s wrath, he left us only grace. Jesus received all of Yahweh’s eternal promises to the house of David then passed those blessings on to us. He is our shield who absorbs our shame (Isa 53:3) and breaks its hold over us (see Col 2:15; Heb 12:2). He is our glory when all earthly glories fade. He is the lifter of our head when we are in despair.

Therefore, call upon the Lord and he will answer you! When you struggle with your fear of others, call upon the Lord your Rescuer. When you struggle with the shame of past sins or angry and bitter feelings, call upon the Lord your Peace (John 14:27). Meditate on the following truths as you replace your fears with faith in God.

Apply Psalm 3:

1. Do you sometimes feel shame over past sin—even if you know you’ve been forgiven? Do you have regrets over mistakes in your past? Are you afraid of certain people because they are angry, critical, or a source of conflict? Write out your prayer as a lament.
2. Picture the Lord as your shield, protecting you on all sides. How does he absorb your shame (Isa 53:3), cast your shame away (Heb 12:2), and make shame powerless against you (Col 2:15)?
3. Trust him as your glory instead of seeking the approval of others or cringing at their criticism.
4. Know the Lord as the lifter of your head who restores your soul and grants you hope in troubled times.
5. Memorize Psalm 3:3 as a foundation for prayer.

Pray Psalm 3:

• Lord, be my salvation. You are a shield about me (vv. 2-3a).
• Be my glory and the lifter of my head when I cry aloud to you (vv. 3b-4).
• Grant me restful sleep when I entrust myself to your care (v. 5).
• Grant me peace when I am fearful of others (v. 6).
• Thank you, God, for you alone can save me from my sins. Nothing can separate me from the salvation I enjoy in Christ (vv. 7-8).

Counsel Psalm 3:

Psalm 3 ministers to counselees whose heads are bowed in shame or who are running away from the fear of others. Counselors can walk them slowly through this psalm until their heart is aligned with David’s. Read More Than a Proof Text: “You feel ashamed—but Christ is the lifter of your head.” (JBC 30.1) and God’s Word for our Shame.

Projects for Growth:

1. Read the historical account of David’s demise in 2 Samuel 15-18. How does understanding this context help you interpret Psalm 3? Why did David run away even as he acknowledged God’s sovereignty?
2. How do the memories of your own past sins affect you today even when you know you’ve been forgiven?
3. What thoughts and feeling do you experience when shame starts to rise up within you? How do you normally respond? What would Psalm 3:1-2 sound like if you wrote them in your own words?
4. How do you feel when others judge or falsely accuse you? How do you normally respond? What inner dialogue goes on inside your head when you hear those outer voices?
5. Read Psalm 3:3 slowly and aloud.
   • Meditate on what it means that the Lord is “a shield about you.” What does a shield do for you when you are attacked? How does the Lord act as your shield in those times when shame attacks you?
   • Meditate on what it means that the Lord is “the lifter of your head.” How does the physical and emotional imagery of this phrase impact the way you think about fear and shame?
   • Meditate on what it means that the Lord is “your glory.” Imagine the Lord lifting your head so you can look upon his radiance like Moses at Mount Sinai (Exod 33-34; Num 6:25; see Heb 1:3). How does God’s glory cause your own face to shine (Exod 34:29-35)?
6. Continually bring your fear and shame to God any time negative feelings arise (Ps 3:4; 1 Pet 5:7). Use Psalm 3:7-8 as a template for prayer if you struggle to find the words.
7. How does the Lord’s sustaining power protect you when you are both sleeping and awake (Ps 3:5-6)? Do you know the peace afforded to you in Christ (John 14:27)? Thank him when you wake up after a good night’s sleep (Ps 127:2).
8. Listen to the hymn Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus as you meditate on Psalm 3 this week.
9. For further study, read The Power of Problems vs. the Power of God or work through God’s Word for our Shame with a friend.

[1] The word Selah, which appears at the end of verses 2, 4, and 8, calls the reader to pause and reflect on the wisdom just conveyed. Some scholars believe this musical notation instructed singers and instrumentalists to build into a crescendo or to lift their hands in “Hallelujah!” as an affirmation of the marvelous truths just sung.