“But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head” (Psalm 3:3)
I remember reading some storybook when I was a kid and coming across the description of a character as having “a hangdog look about him.” I didn’t know precisely what that meant, but I knew what that meant. I could picture it: sad eyes, drooping features, head down like an old hound dog that’s been mistreated for far too long.
When I read Psalm 3:3, that description comes to mind–the downcast, drooping, weary posture of someone who is overwhelmed. We feel like that often in the face of life’s hardships. It’s too much for us.
Another memory from my youth comes to mind when I read this verse, that of all the pep talks I received after striking out or missing a tackle, or losing a game. They almost always included some version of “chin up, you’ll get it next time.” But that’s not what the psalmist is saying.
This is not a psalm calling for an attitude adjustment or a positive perspective. It is a promise for us in the middle of immense hardship. It isn’t a chipper reminder to “chin up.” It’s a declaration that God will lift our weary, worried, frightened heads.
And when he lifts them, what will we see? No longer will we stare at our own selves and the circumstances we can’t fix. Instead, we will see him, our shield and glory, the one fighting for us and defending us, and working on our behalf. When he lifts our heads, our countenance will change from hangdog to hopeful. And when he lifts our chins, we can set our faces in resolute faith.
I originally wrote this post for my church, Immanuel Nashville, in our Daily Pulse email. If you want encouragement from God’s word delivered Monday thru Friday to your inbox, I encourage you to subscribe!
