The One Who Lifts Up

"Many are they who say of me, "There is no help for him in God." Selah ³ But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head."

Psalm 3:2-3

How good it is to know we as followers of Jesus have help and enduring hope in God, the LORD who is a shield for us, our glory and the One who lifts up our heads.  David was not assured this hope because he was made king over Israel, for the same God was with him as a young shepherd and when he faced Goliath.  It was not his skill with sling and stone but God who granted him and all Israel the victory.  It is amazing people can think we are beyond help or hope (and sadly even we can be deceived to think such of others at times), yet when God lifts our head to behold Jesus, the One who was lifted up for our redemption now seated in glory, we are strengthened in the LORD to joyfully endure.

The phrase "lifted up the head" and variations of it are found many times throughout scripture.  At a glance the most common uses are to be exalted and promoted or to be lifted up in opposition.  Pharaoh lifted up the head of the cupbearer and restored him to his previous position of honour, whilst the head of the butler was lifted up when he was executed by hanging.  After God wrought a great victory over the Midianites at the hand of Gideon, Judges 8:28 says for 40 years the people of Midian were subdued and "lifted up their heads no more."  Evil-merodach king of Babylon "lifted up the head" of king Jehoiachin of Judah when he brought him out of prison, spoke kindly to him, changed his clothes, bestowed upon him honour and gave him food to eat continually all the days of his life (2 Kings 25:27-30).

David said it was the LORD God who was his shield, glory and lifter of his head.  God did the helping, exalting and strengthening.  Many have lifted their heads against God whom He will judge in due time, for all who walk in pride He is able to abase.  How blessed we are to have God's love and grace revealed to us to an infinitely greater degree than Pharaoh did for his cupbearer, David did for Mephibosheth or Evil-merodach did for Jehoiachin.  Lifting up our heads is more than coaxing us out of a depressed state, but He has spoken words of love and grace, promises we ought to take to heart and believe.  Jesus has released us from the bondage of sin and the curse of death which imprisoned us and led us into His marvelous light.  He has clothed us in righteousness by grace through faith in Him, and caused us to lie down in green pastures beside still waters with restored souls.  He has given us the Living Bread of Jesus Christ to sustain us day by day forever.  By the power of the everlasting Gospel we have been granted abundant life with God who will be our guide, shield, comfort and help for eternity.

Since God has lifted up our heads, should we justify being downcast over the trials God allows?  Should we give ear to enemies who surround us and say, "There is no help for him in God?"  Consider what Paul wrote in light of our glorious God in Romans 8:31-34:  "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? ³³ Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us."  Faith in God lifts our heads to behold Him, to fix our eyes upon Christ in praise and worship.  How we feel could be compared to a silky flag that indicates the direction of the wind, not a rudder to guide us or an anchor to hold us fast.  Having Christ as an anchor for our souls, guided by the truth of God's word and empowered by the Holy Spirit, let us respond with joyful gratitude to the LORD who lifts up our heads.