May 21, 2019 -- Psalm 3:1-3 -- The Precious Names of God
/O LORD, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;
many are saying of my soul,
there is no salvation for him in God. Selah.
But you, O LORD, are a shield about me,
my glory and the lifter of my head.
Psalm 3:1-3 ESV
Selah is a notation which means: pause. Reflect. Repeat.
The Bible is filled with references to God that are vivid in their imagery. We learn through such names and descriptions important information. These names fill out our of knowledge of the Holy One. Furthermore the Holy Spirit Who inspired men to write the Bible gives us such names so that we will be led into greater intimacy with the Creator of the Universe.
As one who wrestles with depression today’s name for God is particularly fitting. The psalm-writer declares the LORD to be: My Glory and the Lifter of My Head. The context in which the psalmist writes the psalm is fighting all around him (David—the author—was betrayed by his son Absalom who wanted to usurp the throne and Absalom had taken some of David’s own loyal men and turned them). The context and words of the text imply David is fighting a sense of worthlessness in his own soul. This is what I can most identify with: there are times that like fog worthlessness and depression descend on me so thickly I don’t want to get out of bed or do anything. Yet in the disorienting haze and mist of this spiritual warfare the Spirit of God inspired David to know the Name of God: “My Glory and the Lifter of My Head.” When depression is pea-soup thick the fog-horn of God’s goodness sounds: He, the LORD, is My Glory and the Lifter of My Head.
It is the glory of God to save ruined sinners, bringing them from death to life by the power of Jesus’ sacrifice.
It is the glory of God to breathe life into those who are dead in their sins and trespasses.
The LORD lifts us up, so that our eyes do not see the enemies around us, lifts us up so that our minds and thoughts do not focus on our circumstances, instead the LORD lifts us up so that by faith we see Him seated High in Splendour, victorious over all even death itself.
The LORD lifts us up, so that we understand we are known to God. He is our Father. He has claimed us through Christ the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. He is our Father, sealed to our hearts as such by the Spirit of God, Who reminds us God has us in the palm of His Hand and no power in heaven or on earth or in the depths of hell can ever snatch us from that place of safety.
Truly, O God, You are My Glory and the Lifter of My Head! Blessed be Your Name. For those this day who wrestle against discouragement and worthlessness, may the glory of Your Name sound relentlessly until the fog of depression lifts and the Light of Christ pierces the gloom. Amen.
