The Lifter of My Head 

“But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.”
Psalm 3:3 (NIV) 

I have a black Labrador. She’s about twelve years old, but thinks she’s a puppy when she goes out for walks. The moment she’s let off the lead she bounds around full of excitement waiting for some kind soul to throw a ball for her. When I’m about to leave the house and it’s apparent that I’m not taking her with me for a walk, she stands in the hall, her head droops, almost touching the floor, and she looks up with those penetrating ‘doggy eyes’. She’s sad that she’s going to be left at home. Just one word changes her whole demeanour: ‘walkies’. Up comes her head, her tail starts wagging, and she starts jumping up looking around for her ball and lead.

This experience with my dog reminded me of the situation in Psalm 3. This psalm was composed by King David when he fled from his son Absalom, who had rebelled against him. The sadness and agony in David’s heart comes through very strongly in this Psalm. David clearly loved Absalom deeply and was sad and depressed over his son’s actions. (You can read the account of this rebellion in 2 Samuel 15).

Many of us can identify with David’s pain and agony. Life is full of painful episodes and knock-backs that can leave us battle-weary and melancholy with our head held low. But there is someone who knows our weaknesses and cares about our pain. Jesus Christ stands ready to lift us up whenever we fall.

David knew that all he had to do was, ‘call out to the LORD, and he answers me’ (Verse 4). He knew how to find peace in the storms of life: ‘the Lord sustains me’ (Verse 5). In calling on the Lord, David received his comfort and sustaining power, and the Lord lifted his head high (Verse 3).

That same assurance can be ours today, no matter what valley we may be walking through. Jesus says to each one of us: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) Just call out to the Lord in your pain and burden and he will lift your head; he will deliver and bless us (Psalm 3:8) with his rest.

Prayer
Father, when I feel low and I am in pain, help me to look to you, the Lifter of My Head. Restore the joy of my salvation in Jesus.
Amen

Study by Barry Robinson

______________________________________________________________

About the Author:
Barry Robinson is an Elder in and pastoral worker in the Greater London area, particularly the Camberwell and North London congregations of the Worldwide Church of God UK.

Local Congregation:
Worldwide Church of God London
Indian YMCA
Mahatma Gandhi Hall
41 Fitzroy Square
LONDON
W1T 6AQ

Meeting time:
Saturday 2:30pm

Local Congregational Contact:
Martin Ryan
Phone:  020 8202 3998
Email:   martin_ryan@wcg.org.uk