In this psalm, David declared his intent not only to “bless” and “praise” the Lord, but to do it “continually” and “at all times.” In other words, he declared his resolve to bless the Lord not only when he had bread to eat, but also when he was hungry and no bread could be found.
It speaks of the total domination and defeat of the enemy. David looked for protection in this psalm, but more than protection – he looked for victory. It wasn't enough for David to survive the threat to the kingdom. He had to be victorious over the threat, and he would be with the blessing of God.
God is our refuge, our safe place, our retreat, the place we go when we are afraid. And there is a lot of fear going around. God is also our strength or “power.” This is the same word that Jesus uses in in Acts 1:8 when he promises to give us “power” with the coming of the Holy Spirit who now lives within us.
Second, God is his glory. This could mean that David awaits God's vindication. He has been driven away in shame, humiliation and weakness, his pride broken and his reputation slandered. Still, though, he's confident that God will restore his dignity and honor as king.
Psalm 3. Is God your glory? (Psalm 3:3). The word glory is the translation of a Hebrew word meaning “weight” or “significance.” Some people measure their worth by beauty, intelligence, money, power, or prestige. But David, who wrote Psalm 3, found his security and worth in God.
kings is to search it out.” - Proverbs 25:2 (ESV). God doesn't hide things from us, but he does hide. things FOR us in order to establish us as kings and. queens.
God becomes our refuge when we trust His Word more than we trust the culture, or even (and especially) our own feelings. The world tells you to “listen to your heart,” but God says your heart will deceive you. God's Word is the only place we find security and protection because it is the only source of truth.
Keep your eyes open for GOD, watch for his works; be alert for signs of his presence.” If we're seeking God, then we are watching for him and his work each day as we go about our business.
Taking refuge in God also means that we use the resources that God has given us: the Word, prayer, and the local church. We cling to the Lord through His Word and prayer, but we are not created to walk through life on our own. When God saved us, he placed us in the body of Christ.
Throughout the 150 chapters that comprise the Bible's Book of Psalms, the message is clear: When the trials and burdens of our everyday existence wear us thin and we experience despair, frustration, hopelessness, or even anger, the best solution is to call upon the Lord.
You are my glory, dear Lord, the one who lifts up my head from shame. You are my reason for living, the one who gives my life meaning. So I cry out to you now, counting on the fact that you will answer me. Because I know you are there for me, I don't have to be kept awake with worry.
"You strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked" evokes the image of landing a crushing blow in combat. The Lord would defeat David's enemies so thoroughly that they would be harmless. Believers may not be surrounded by military foes, but we are surrounded by trials and afflictions.
One of the Psalms of David, it focuses on dedicating someone's life to God, and leaning on Him even during hard times. It is a psalm of renewal, written as David was coming out of a difficult situation and having to face pain later in his life.
David wrote in Psalm 34 that he would bless the Lord at all times. ALL includes the good times as well as the bad times. ALL meant that David would bless the Lord in times of lack and in times of abundance.
Justice—the virtue that requires us to give to each person his due—requires us to offer our sacrifice of thanksgiving to God in return for his many blessings. The Catechism says that this is what it means for man to bless God, to offer “adoration and surrender to his Creator in thanksgiving” (CCC 1078).
When Jesus gave His life for us on that cross, when God prioritized our salvation above everything else, it wasn't for us to make Him a side thought. But for us to surrender our lives to Him and embrace the one He has for us. This is how we seek God with our whole heart. By living for Him alone.
This tells us that, if you search for God, He will reveal Himself to you. God wants you to find and discover Who He is. Because of the love He has for us, He sent His Son Jesus to pay the ultimate price, so we can make heaven and avoid eternity with Satan. Seeking him wholeheartedly is never in vain.
The great promise to those who seek the Lord is that he will be found. “If you seek him, he will be found by you” (1 Chronicles 28:9). And when he is found, there is great reward. “Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
In the bible physical strength is the word 'ischuros' – which means might, strong in the sense of physical strength. An example of this would be in 1 Corinthians 1.25, '…and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
A refuge is a shelter, a safe place that protects us from danger. The ultimate danger we face on a daily basis is the impermanence of being human, our inevitable death. We wrestle with our fear of this reality in smaller ways, each and every day. In the process, we experience pain and suffering.
Benefit of Making God Our Refuge
He gives us physical and spiritual strength to withstand/fight through the storms. The same word for strength is “power” in Acts 1:8 when Jesus speaks of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Taking refuge in Jesus fights off fear.
Through our seeing we also come to savor his glory. In other words, we come to see Jesus as more precious, valuable, and beautiful than anything (Ps 119; John 15:11; 1 Pet 1:23-2:2). And as a result of our savoring, we are ultimately transformed into the image of Christ (2 Cor 3:18; Rom 8:29; 1 John 3:2).
We become what we behold. So, empowered by the Holy Spirit, let's behold the glory of the Lord Jesus by meditating on His Word, singing His praise, and obeying His commands. The more clearly we see Him, the more we will become like Him.