That Christ Alone be Glorified

Michael E. Wood
February 14, 2012

Psalm 3:1-4
A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah
But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

How often do we tend to bypass the introductory remarks of a particular Psalm and go directly into reading the verses which are numbered? It is good to be reminded that in the original manuscripts, there were no chapter or verse divisions, but they were added much later on. Thus in the case of the Psalms, the introductory remarks are just as much the inspired Word of God as the verses which follow.

When reading the first verse of this Psalm in the context of the introductory remarks we find that one of the greatest foes David faced in his later years was his own son. (See 2nd Samuel 13-15:17)  That which was born of his own body and coddled throughout his life time rose up against him. Remaining sin can work that way as well if we coddle it and protect it, rather than confess it and forsake it. Thus it behooves us to not only to be hearers of the whole counsel of God but to be doers of it as well. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22).

 Let us persevere in our battle against remaining sin for the glory of God

Oh permeate our heart and mind with all You have to say
That we may with all diligence live for Your praise each day!
Not simply with a knowledge that will only puff us up,
But that inflamed with love for You as we together sup.


Oh help us not be self-deceived by that which lies within
But only for Your glory, give us grace to deal with sin.
For that which we now coddle, only seeks to bring us ruin,
Though now it may seem innocent, destructive ways are brewin’;
And when inflamed by pride, from feelings of entitlement,
Our sin stirs to defy the only One of whom You sent,
In whom we could be justified and in Your presence stand,
When this brief life is over and we’re in the Promised Land.