Trusting God in the midst of many adversaries
November 21, 2023 - Tuesday, Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Psalm 3:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
Psalm 3 begins with the superscription “a psalm of David when he fled from his son Absalom”. The entire story is told in 2 Samuel 13-19. David had many children with many different wives and one of them was Absalom. He had a beautiful sister Tamar who was raped by his half-brother Amnon. To avenge his sister, Absalom killed Amnon and then ran away into hiding from the wrath of David. After three years, David allowed Absalom to return to Jerusalem and then Absalom began a plot to overthrow his father. He drew many influential people from the circle of David to join him and he also captured the hearts of many ordinary people. Thus, a report came to David: “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.” (2 Sam 15:13). Upon hearing that news, David immediately left Jerusalem with those who remained faithful to him and went across the Jordan. A civil war began that ended with David's army defeating Absalom's army and with Absalom being killed.
Among the advisers of Absalom was Ahithophel known for his good counsels. We read in the story: "Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom" (2 Sam 16:23). Ahithophel wanted to go immediately with twelve thousand men after David and kill him (2 Sam 17:1-3). If Absalom would follow that advice David would be finished. The moment David was told that “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom” he prayed to the Lord: “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness” (2 Sam 15:31). And the Lord heard his prayer. Instead of listening to the advice of Ahithophel, Absalom followed the advice of Hushai, a loyal supporter of David. Hushai advised Absalom to gather all the forces from the north to the east of Israel and then go against David. It gave David the time needed to gather an army around him and prepare for a battle. The biblical author says that the advice of Athiophel was rejected "For the LORD had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the LORD might bring harm upon Absalom" (2 Sam 17:14).
The psalmist’s statement that he could peacefully sleep despite all his many adversaries, reminds me of the story of Saint Peter narrated by Luke in the Acts of the Apostles. Herod Agrippa I of Judea around 44 AD killed the apostle James and then imprisoned Peter. Luke writes that four squads of soldiers were guarding Peter (Acts 12:4). The very night before the day Herod intended to execute Peter, the apostle "was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison" (Acts 12:6). With such a heavy guarding, King Herod could indeed think that not even the Lord could rescue Peter from his hand (see Ps 3:3). On the other hand, the ability of Peter to sleep despite being surrounded by many enemies fits the confession of the psalmist: "When I lie down in sleep, I wake again, for the LORD sustains me. I fear not the myriads of people arrayed against me on every side" (Ps 3:6-7).
The meditation on this psalm invites us to reflect upon our attitude towards the challenges we face in life. We are also surrounded by many enemies. What is our reaction: panic or trust? Fear or prayer? The Lord thwarted the plans of Absalom to overthrow his father from his throne, protected the psalmist from his enemies, and rescued Peter from "the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting" (Acts 12:11). The Lord has not changed. What he did in the past for our ancestors in faith, he can also do for us in our times.