Psalm 3, 41, 71

Comment:

Psalm 3 is reputed to be a psalm written by King David when he is in the midst of conflict with his son, Absalom. Following a common psalmic structure, it begins with a statement of complaint—"how many are my foes!" It then moves to an affirmation that the Lord is present, even in the midst of the conflict: "I cry aloud to the Lord, and he answers me." In the third stanza, the psalmist relaxes his anxiety in the sustenance of the Lord, and concludes with a ringing affirmation of confidence that "deliverance belongs to the Lord." It's a structure that serves us well when we find ourselves in conflict or challenge. We recognize the situation and then affirm that the power of the Lord is more than capable of releasing us from the challenge at hand. We relax in that confidence and call upon the indwelling "Lord of our being" to provide the necessary guidance and energy. It is not that the Lord will intervene on our behalf, but that as we recognize the Lord as our own true essence, we are able to move confidently and lovingly forward.

Psalm 41 is a very situational psalm, in that we know quite a bit about the condition that gave rise to the words. It is a prayer—an affirmation, really—for healing. Its underlying message is that God is the only Source we need, or can trust, in every circumstance. According to the judgment of the author's enemies—and even his friends—he is seriously, perhaps terminally, ill. If he places his faith in those opinions, he will indeed fulfill their negative expectations. But by remembering that God is the Source for healing, and God is the energy in which negative expressions of disease can be dissolved, he will rise up from his sickbed and prove his friends and enemies wrong. So it is with us. If we choose to place our faith strictly in the workings of our minds and reports of our senses, we will be buffeted by negative and contradictory energies. But if we place our faith in the Christ Presence of God, we will always be empowered and at peace.

Psalm 71 is a similar expression of both challenge and confidence on the part of an old man (see verse 9) who affirms that although his physical strength is ebbing, the power of the Lord continues strong within him. In the face of enemies seeking to exploit his apparent weakness, he promises to continue to use his spiritual talents—music, in this case—to affirm his faith and "proclaim thy wondrous deeds." It's a reminder that we, too, cannot expect to simply sit by and wait for salvation. We have been given spiritual gifts with which to accomplish our spiritual purpose. If we focus on sharing those gifts, we can be confident that the "power and righteous" of the Lord will be our guide and support.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed