The Lifter of my Head
by Paul Griffin
It is extremely confusing and painful when those closest to us betray us or let us down. We are almost certainly going to experience feelings of rejection and abandonment. We may even feel ashamed of what has happened to us and somehow blame ourselves for the way others have badly treated us. If you can identify with this take encouragement today from Psalm 3.
The introduction to this Psalm says that it was written by King David when he fled from his son Absalom. David’s son had betrayed him and tried to take the Kingdom of Israel for himself. David is exhausted, fearful and feels as though he is surrounded by his enemies and those who despise him. He is in a place where it would have been easy for him to give in to self pity and allow depression to overtake him.
David’s response, however, in the midst of his pain, is to call out to God to deliver him. He calls on God to arise and save him, proclaiming that salvation belongs to the Lord. In verse 3 David declares that the Lord is ‘a shield around him and the lifter of his head.’ The Lord is the one who can save him and protect him. The Lord is the one who declares that he does not need to lower his head in shame. The Lord is able to take that false guilt and shame away.
This Psalm reminds me of a young lady I prayed with many years ago. Her head was bowed low and long hair covered her face. She had been badly betrayed and abused and had somehow taken upon herself the guilt for what had happened. As we prayed and she forgave her abuser, God came and lifted off the confusion, false guilt and shame. The next time I met her, I failed to recognise her. Her head was upright, and her hair was swept back and no longer covered her now sparkling face. She had become a walking demonstration that God is indeed the lifter of our heads.
Prayer: Thank You, Father God, that You are our shield and deliverer. When I feel disheartened or oppressed, help me to put my trust in You. Thank You that You are able to take away all my false guilt and shame. Thank You that You are the lifter of my head. Amen.
Paul Griffin Paul spent 20 years working as a chemical engineer for an oil company in South Africa, the Middle East and Japan prior to going to Bible College. Paul and his wife Liz have been involved with Ellel since 1991 and are associate teachers as well as being authors of the books ‘Anger …How do you Handle it?’ and ‘Hope and Healing for the Abused.’
Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship. Provided full acknowledgement is made to Seeds of the Kingdom as the source, you are also welcome to use it in a non-commercial way and reproduce it in magazines or other Christian websites. The copyright for any commercial use of the material remains with Ellel Ministries International.
