Join us as we explore Psalm 3, a powerful scripture that resonates with anyone facing life’s adversities. Jeff Archie from the International Gospel Hour presents this captivating study, emphasizing how God serves as a refuge and shield amidst our challenges. With a faithful heart and a diligent study of the scriptures, this episode provides a comforting reminder of the Lord’s unwavering strength and the blessings bestowed upon His people. Along the journey, listeners are encouraged to engage with online Bible studies, expanding their understanding and deepening their faith.
Well, friends, the main event is just ahead. That is the enemies of God versus the children of God. You want to know how it ends? Well, stay right here with us. It’s coming up from the International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 02 :
Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. We’re so glad you’ve decided to listen to our program today. In a world of challenges, we need God’s Word to help us face those challenges. Thank you for joining us in this period of Bible study with our speaker, Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ. So let’s listen today. Here’s Jeff.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, thank you to our J-Web, and greetings to all of you. Great having you with us for our studies once again from the International Gospel Hour. We’re honored that you’ve joined us for a study of the Word of God. In a few moments, our J-Web will let you know about some online study opportunities. We want to highlight those in our broadcast today. And I want to give you another free online tool, gospelgazette.com. That’s gospelgazette.com. Now, when you go to gospelgazette.com, that’s one Z and two Ts, by the way, Click on the archive tab and you’ll see access to over 25 years of articles by Christian men and women. So please check them out today at gospelgazette.com. This is what we call our psalm cast. That is, from time to time we take one of the beautiful psalms of the Old Testament and today we want to consider Psalm 3. Psalm 3 reads as follows, Lord, how they have increased who trouble me. Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But you, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, and he heard me from his holy hill. Selah. I lay down and slept. I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O Lord, save me, O my God, for you have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone. You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon your people. Selah. What an awesome text. And friends, we’re going to study Psalm 3 today, the enemies of God versus the children of God. And I think you know who’s going to win. But first, here’s a few words from our J-Web with one of our awesome online Bible studies just for you.
SPEAKER 02 :
What is your purpose in life, friend? Where did we come from? Your answer to these fundamental questions is greatly affected by whether you believe in God, believe the Bible is true, and believe Jesus to be divine. Through our friend and evangelist, Rob Whitaker, we offer a great online video study titled Believe the Bible. Please allow us to send you the link and check it out. Just call toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, email, and just say Believe the Bible. Again, call toll-free at 855-444-6988, and please leave your name, email, and just say, Believe the Bible. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, email, and type Believe the Bible in the message blank. We will send the link right away.
SPEAKER 01 :
Now a little bit of background on Psalm 3. This is believed to be the psalm of words penned by David when he fled from Absalom, his son, that we read about beginning in 2 Samuel chapter 15. Because of that occasion, it’s noted as a psalm of lament, which is a psalm that is a cry unto God on behalf of one or behalf of a nation in time of trouble. and the plea for God to respond and intervene. Lamentations, if you will. The book of Lamentations, penned by Jeremiah through inspiration, lamented Jerusalem and a plea to God to respond. So this is a psalm of lament, a plea for God. It’s one that is hurting. Now, we note a key word in this psalm three times, Selah, verses 2, 4, and at the end of verse 8. Now, when you see that word Selah in the psalms, it means that that’s a time for one to pause and allow what has been read or sung to dwell in thought and to absorb a little more what is said. So within this psalm of lament, it is worthy to pause, think, and allow the comfort to come upon that individual. So for the next few moments, let’s look at the following with this psalm. First of all, let’s see the problem in verses 1 and 2. How they have increased to trouble me. Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me there is no help for him in God. Selah. Now think on that a moment. Here they’re increasing the trouble. They’re rising up. And they’re even lying trying to get you to see how bad off you truly are. There’s the problem. But as we will see, there’s a lot ahead. You know, later the psalmist would affirm in Psalm 56 and verse 9, Unto God, when I cry unto thee, then shall my enemies turn back. This I know, for God is for me. And we easily see today how the enemies against God rise up. And it seems to be more and more with the ungodly positions taken and the increase of sinful living in this old world. Many things are spoken against God by those who do not know God, or as I say, friends, when the heathen refers to the heavenly, they actually have no clue to what they are referring. Jesus affirmed in John 15, 18, If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. And in John 16, 33, These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. And we’re reminded in 1 John 5 and verse 4, For whatever is born of God overcomes the world, and this is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. So yes, here is a problem. Let’s address the problem with number two. Let’s see the provision. Verses three through five. But you, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, and he heard me from his holy hill. Selah. Think of that a moment. He is the shield. He is the glory. He lifts us up. He hears us. to where the psalmist said, I lay down and slept, I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. You know, friends, the Lord is the protector, the shield, and He will hear His own. We know that from 1 Peter 3.12 and 1 Peter 5.7. To know the Lord is the protector, the shield, let’s rely upon Him. I find the phrase, when I cried to the Lord, I cried to the Lord. And as we search this a little bit more, this is a continual plea, a continual prayer. That sometimes we go to God with the same thing. But does this not remind us of the parable of the persistent widow from Luke 18, 1-8? She kept going to that judge. He didn’t fear God nor regard man. She kept telling him, get justice for me from my adversary. For a while he would, and then finally, just to get her quiet, he did so. And the Lord says here what the unjust judge said, Shall God not avenge his own elect who cry out day and night to him, though he bears long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. See, when we’re faced with the problems, God supplies the provision. When we lament, there is the Lord. Let’s see the position. So you see, the many back up in verse 1 doesn’t matter in verses 6 and 7. Amen. God’s force upon the wicked is strong and powerful. To hit an impact of the cheekbone and the teeth would stop the enemy in their tracks. And then let’s see the place where all is done. Salvation belongs to the Lord. Verse 8. Your blessing is upon your people. Selah. Think on that. Salvation, delivery belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon your people. Now, as I was reading over this, I had one thought. A dear brother penned this part, this verse is referred to as the heart of the psalm of Psalm 3. It’s the heart of it. Salvation belongs to the Lord. Your blessing is upon your people. that we cry unto Him with a problem, He gives the provisions, He gives us the position in which to stand, and the place therein. So you see, the problems are met, the provision is granted, the position is renewed. Does that not bring to mind Romans 8, 31, If God be for us, who can be against us? And in verse 37 of the same chapter, Yea, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Oh, friends, what an awesome psalm cast today. Would you not agree? And we look forward to studying the psalms together throughout our broadcast here from International Gospel Hour. I told you we had a couple of online studies for you. We mentioned the first one. Here is the second online study just for you. And here is our J-Web with the details from our friends at the World Bible School.
SPEAKER 02 :
How about an online study of the Bible? That’s right. The World Bible School has a free online Bible study available. Just go to worldbibleschool.org and register. A study helper will assist you in answering questions and provide feedback for your lessons. That’s the free online study at worldbibleschool.org. Sign up today. Tell them the International Gospel Hour sent you.
SPEAKER 01 :
Dear friends, what an awesome study today on this, what we call our psalm cast. We love to take the psalms of the Old Testament and look through them. And we just wrapped up with Psalm 3. Down the road we’ll do Psalm 4. Hey, we’ll have 150 of them ahead and probably a lot more programs out of that. The Psalms are great to study, and we’re thankful you could join us today for our studies here from International Gospel Hour. And we’ll study together at another time, shall we? Thank you for joining me once again on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, as always, keep listening.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for listening today. May this study prompt your search of God’s Word for His will in your life. To assist you in your study or to listen to our other programs, please visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com. To God be the glory. God be with you till we meet again.
