THE LIFTER OF MY HEAD

Lately, I've been reading through the Psalms for my Quiet Time with Jesus. They are my favorite place to turn whenever my temptations seem overwhelming or I've been stressed out with life's problems. This morning, though, the stress has rolled away and I find myself singing. 

It's so cool when I'm reading the Bible and find a Scripture song I've known for a long time. This was one of those times. In Psalm 3, David is praying, "Many are they who say to me, 'There is no help for him in God.' But You, Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head" (Psalm 3:2-3). 

When I went to Christian college, I first learned about Scripture songs and this was one of my favorites--

"My glory and the lifter of my head, my glory and the lifter of my head.
For You, Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the lifter of my head. 
I cried unto the Lord with my voice, I cried unto the Lord with my voice.
I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and He heard me out of His holy hill."

King David sang this song when he was fleeing from his son Absalom (who was coming with an army to take over the kingdom). I can hardly imagine how low David must have felt--to have his son turn on him like that! II Samuel 15 says that as he left Jerusalem, David climbed up the Mount of Olives, and he covered his head, and wept. He bowed his head in weeping and crying and grief. That's usually what we do when we're going through tough times--our heads are brought low and bowed down.

But when God is the Lifter of your head, He delivers you from your time of trouble. Your focus is no longer on the trial or temptation you've been going through but upon God's healing love. And He helps you to look up again--to see beyond your tears or the darkness. You're no longer in misery or pain because God has lifted up your head.

Years ago, Charles Spurgeon said to his congregation:

“Some of you have tried to find refuge out[side] of God. You have sought to find it in your wealth, but you have pricked your head when you have laid it on that pillow. You have sought it with a friend, but that friend’s arm has been a broken reed, where you hoped it would be a wall of strength. You will never find rest except in God; there is no refuge but in Him.” (“The Glorious Habitation”, Vol. II, p.8)

God may use people to help us out of our problems. But ultimately, they are not the answer. God is. And Spurgeon was saying the same thing that David did in Psalm 3--make GOD your refuge; turn to Him for help and salvation. HE will be the One who will deliver you from your situation, whatever it is. HE must be “the lifter of (your) head.

This morning, Jesus made it so clear to me--When I cry unto the Lord with my voice, as David did, even if tears are rolling down my cheeks, Jesus will hear me. And He will come to lift me up so I can rejoice and sing this song. I'm gonna be singing all day long!