Psalm 3

1 O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me.
2 So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!”

3 But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
4 I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain.

5 I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me.
6 I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side.

7 Arise, O Lord! Rescue me, my God! Slap all my enemies in the face! Shatter the teeth of the wicked!
8 Victory comes from you, O Lord. May you bless your people.

David's own son was trying to kill him. So much for the old saying "it's good to be king!"

Success and blessings are often the things that make others most jealous. We could hope that our friends and loved ones would rejoice in our good fortune, but it doesn't always happen.

I've seen it: A chaplain gets promoted and those around him don't rejoice...they ask "what makes him so special?" Early in my Air Force career a friend of mine was promoted a year ahead of his peers. I'd never seen that happen so I approached my boss and asked "what's the deal?"

My boss said "don't blame him...it's not his fault."

And it wasn't. God gave it to him.

But, many people believe good fortune is a scarce commodity so our blessings come at their expense. They become angry and try to take them away. The sin of pride claims..."I deserve it as much as he does!"

That's the dark side of humanity..

It wasn't his fault...David was given astounding glory and riches and power...all because he was a man after God's own heart...not because he schemed and connived to get there.

And since everything he had become was endowed by God, David had confidence that God would also protect and sustain him. These are uncertain times. Our homes, our jobs, our welfare are at risk. If all we have has been given by God, we can say "O Lord, you are a shield about me...I lie down to sleep and wake up in safety."

"The Lord giveth...and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

This is very good news.

Live boldly out there today...