An avalanche of consequences

We're looking at Psalm 3 this week . . . don't get anxious, now. Just because we take some of these psalms one-by-one, doesn't mean we are going to do every. Single. One. 

Although if we did, that would be cool, too.

But I'm going through and studying, and listening to the Spirit while I do. I think there's a lot for us here in the third psalm.

Let's dive in, shall we?
This psalm was written by King David when he fled from Absalom, his son. David had fled his own palace in the dead of night. He crossed over the brook called Kedron, and took a few faithful followers with him. They were going to hide from the fury of his rebellious son. 

We're told by the scholars that in this, David was a "type" or mirror of what happened to our Lord and Savior, Jesus. Jesus, too, passed over the brook Kedron when His people were in rebellion against Him. He had a small (and feeble) band of followers that went with Him to the garden called Gethsemane. He would be humiliated just as David was . . . . well, let's go back to David's story for now, ok?

Why did I use the word "avalanche" in the title today? Let's take a birds'-eye-view of the situation. 

David had reigned not just for years, but for decades as one of the most powerful and prosperous monarchs in the world. He had become tremendously wealthy, living in a splendid palace with wives and servants; he had also increased the stature of Israel in the world, and extended its influence beyond its borders. He had absolute authority over everyone in his kingdom, and he had the blessings of God upon his life and his reign.

OK, so where's the avalanche?

It's coming . . . cue the ominous music.

David sinned with Bathsheba and then ordered the murder of her husband, Uriah. Even though David repented later when the prophet Nathan confronted him, his sins set in motion a series of devastating consequences. God would allow these consequences to occur. First, David's oldest son, Amnon, raped his half-sister, Tamar. Tamar's brother, Absalom, took vengeance by murdering Amnon, and then fled into exile. In a few years, Absalom was allowed to return, but David refused to see him for about two years. Of course, resentment started to build in Absalom.

II Samuel and some commentaries tell us that Absalom was a great favorite of his father, King David, and of the people, as well. He had charming manners and he was handsome. He loved pomp and the trappings of royalty, and he was a manipulator, too. He drove a magnificent chariot and had fifty men run before him. This pageantry produced the desired effect upon the hearts of the people in the royal city. Because he had been courting any of the disgruntled nobles of the kingdom, and offering himself as a potential leader, he was seen as a more kingly yet sympathetic ruler-to-be. When he rebelled against his dad, they were ready and willing to join in and help him become king.

In order to survive, David had to gather up a few belongings, all his family that was still "in his corner," and the servants and followers that were loyal to him. They hastily grabbed what they could and took off toward the wilderness. The scriptures tell us that David followed them all, weeping and walking barefoot. His head was covered in shame. To add to his humiliation, a man from the family of King Saul (the nation's previous ruler) came out and cursed David as he passed by; he accuses him of being worthless and being a man of bloodshed. (If you want to check this out you can look in II Samuel, in chapters 15 and 16.)

Everything that David had spent his life working for had suddenly frayed like the edge of a cheap piece of fabric. The avalanche had started with his tragic failure in taking Bathsheba and arranging for the death of her husband. The avalanche had continued with his failure as a father: after his daughter was raped a son was murdered, and the murderer was now after his own father's life -- and his kingdom. Many of his allies and friends had abandoned him and were now siding with his rebellious son.

Maybe we haven't experienced the depth and the quantity of traumas that David was going through. But I bet we've had times when we could identify with him. We may have been blindsided by being unjustly accused and fired from work. We may have had one of our children turn against us and resist every effort to be reconciled.  We may have experienced the pain of a spouse who suddenly files for divorce. We may have been shocked by a doctor's diagnosis that means our life will be shortened.

What do we do?

What do you do?

Does life seem to be falling apart? It must have seemed that way to David.

Here's what he did: he wrote a psalm. 

In fact, he wrote two. Some scholars call Psalm 3 a morning psalm, and Psalm 4 an evening psalm.

I believe that since many of us either have dealt with, or are currently dealing with, issues that seem to have our lives fraying, we can learn from both of these psalms.

I hope you will stick with me as we dig in.