Central Truth

As our adversaries "increase" we must rely only on God for salvation and relief. He will be our salvation and guide us to those who can truly help. God mysteriously and marvelously works as we cry out to Him with our voice.

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Reflections

Adversaries. We all have them. Sometimes they are a person, or a group, or an organization, or a nation. Often they are our own prejudices, or attitudes, or hurts, or habits, or circumstances.

The presidential primaries show us how easily and quickly adversaries develop. I have fought the adversary of grief, and, by God's grace and compassion, I am joyfully on the recovery side of that circumstance. The problem can be just as Psalm 3:1 says, "O LORD, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me." The rascals never seem to go away! Conquer one and two more rise up to replace it. It can seem so bad to others that, "Many are saying of my soul, 'There is no deliverance for him in God'", but as Psalm 3:2 says, Really?

My experience parallels that of David in Psalm 3:3-4. The Lord is a shield around me, He is my glory and the One who lifts my head, and when I cry out to Him with my voice, He answers me from His holy mountain.

Immediately after my wife Susan's going to be with the Lord, I would sometimes awake very early in the cold, dark mornings of February. I would pace the long, covered back porch talking aloud to God. I asked questions and made statements and acknowledged that He alone knew the sense of my circumstance. Sometimes, not knowing what or how to pray, I would read scripture aloud to God. Rod, my godly pastor, would let me talk and pray aloud with him. Then, as Psalm 3:5,6 says: I would lay down, sleep, and awake refreshed and sustained by God! I would have no fear! Why? Because God had smitten and shattered the teeth of my grief! Just crying aloud to God with my voice activated His salvation in ways that are truly mysterious and marvelous. God handled the adversary just as Psalm 3:7 tells us.

Psalm 3:8 assures us that salvation belongs to the LORD and that this blessing will be upon His people. Cry out to God with your voice and activate His richest blessing!

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Discussion Questions

1. Who or what is your adversary? Spell it out in words.
2. How will you cry out to God with your voice:
a. Pray aloud with another person, group or by yourself?
b. Read scripture aloud to God, to your spouse, to your children,
to a group?
c. Have a conversation out loud with God?
d. How many other ways could you cry out to God with your voice?
3. What pattern for receiving rest, energy, and relief from fear do you
see in Psalm 3?
4. When and how will you begin a regular process of crying out to God?
List the benefits of you might gain as you see them in Psalm 3.

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