Psalm 3: We Are Born Rebels

By: Edward Cortez

 

If you have a Bible and turn to the third chapter of Psalms, you may fi nd a superscription that states, “A Psalm of David when he fl ed from Absalom his son.” And so, this particular Psalm was written by David at some of the lowest points of his life when his son, Absalom, rebelled against him.

There’s nothing that tears at the heart of parents more than the rebellion of a beloved son or daughter especially if they directly and openly threaten them. And this is exactly the predicament that David fi nds himself in Psalm 3. Absalom wants to be the next in line to the throne. He is very popular because of his charisma and good looks. He courts the loyalty of many of his father’s men and wins them over to him. And so, he stages a coup d’état against his father.

Realizing the sheer number of those who have joined his son’s rebellion, David opens up with words of desperation, “Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me…” (verse 1). Rather than confront his son, David chose to leave his fort ress to avoid bloodshed. But his son Absalom was determined to pursue his father at all cost and eliminate him once and for all in order to secure his position on the throne.

The rebel forces were closing in and a fi erce battle ensued on the day of rebellion. The irony of it all was that David’s own men who gallantly fought with him in many battles were now arrayed against him deceived and blindly following their rebel leader. This must have put a heavy burden on David’s heart and the fact that his beloved son was the leader of the breakaway group devastated him.

Emotionally shaken and his heart torn apart David prayed, “But you, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high” (verse 3). David turns to the One who has been his protector and preserver, and the One who encourages and gives him hope. At the lowest point of his life he fi nds his footing and turns to the Lord, “I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain” (verse 4).

While refl ecting on this psalm I am reminded of another son who rebelled against his father – the prodigal son in the gospel of Luke. After he hit rock bottom and realized his grave mistake he came back to the waiting arms of his father.

We are all born rebels. The Bible declares that “there is no one righteous, not even one… all have turned away…there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10-12). No matter how good we think we may be, we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And rather than go by the way of Absalom we can humble ourselves and, like the prodigal son, choose to return home to the loving arms of our Father and fi nd mercy and forgiveness in his presence as we put our faith in Jesus and his fi nish work on the cross.

“Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon Your people” (verse 8). What a beautiful ending to this Psalm. From desperation to redemption, David maintains his trust in God.