"O YAHWEH, how great in number are my foes!
How numerous are they who rise against me!
How many are they who say of my soul:
'There is no help for him in GOD!'
But YOU are my shield, O YAHWEH,
my glory; YOU lift up my head.
Aloud I cry to YAHWEH,
and from HIS holy Hill HE answers me.
If I lie down to sleep,
again I awake, for YAHWEH supports me;
no fear of the thousands standing against me."
- Psalm 3:2-3. 4-5. 6-7
(The 'enemies' are always trying to undermine the psalmist's trust in GOD. The psalmist sees their political or personal hostility as a test of his confidence in the shield that protects him. It follows that though we and the psalmist have different enemies we are fighting in a common cause: to keep the supply-lines open between GOD and ourselves. Difficulties from outside us and struggles within are not in themselves good things: they are only good challenges, opportunities, or urgent invitations to turn to the only place where help is to be found.
The psalm has a Christian projection in the exhortation of JESUS: "Do not be afraid. I have conquered the world" [John 16:33]. No matter what the odds against him, with his undeniable faith in GOD, the Christian will be a winner. The believer will thus be able to face the present-day adversities.)
No comments:
Post a Comment