deliverance

Psalm 3

This psalm was written by David while he was fleeing his son, Absalom. I think that context gives extra meaning to the words of the psalm. I don't think the psalms are always arranged thematically but Psalm 2 and 3 fit very well together: God has installed his king in Zion and David expressed complete confidence and peace in the midst of turmoil.
David states the problem: I am so surrounded by enemies that nobody has any hope of my survival. Then he states his confidence: it is God who will protect me, deliver me and potentially restore me. Because of this confidence, David can slepp at night without fear.
This is really an acknowledgement of God's sovreign control. If God really is the ruler of this world and if he really does laugh at the plans of those who rebel against him, then David really has nothing to fear. The plans of Absalom will not overthrow the plans of God. For that matter, the plans of David will not prevent God from accomplishing his purpose. Because David knows that God is in control, he can rest. Because David knows that God is good, he can trust that God's plan, whatever it is, will be good. God sustains David. God lifts David's head.
While I don't often (ever?) have a tonne of human enemies surrounding me, sometimes I feel like circumstances and stresses are piling up around me and threaten to overcome me. There are times when I can't sleep at night because of all the worries I have. David reminds me that I can sleep in peace because God is in control and he is good. Sometimes I feel the need to lift my own head: to sustain myself, to glorify myself, to defend myself. David reminds me that God is the lifter of my head, the sustainer of my life, health and reputation and the shield that defends me. I can have the same confidence in the face of failure, temptation and sin. God is the one who restores and sustains me. There are things I can and should put in place to prevent myself from giving in to sin but ultimately, Christ is my strength, my shield and my defender. I can build my confidence on the second last line of the psalm: from the Lord comes deliverance.