Psalm 3:3-5 But you, O LORD, are a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of my head.… Gerhardt was exiled from Brandenburg by the Grand Elector in 1659. The said Grand Elector wished to tune his pulpits. Gerhardt refused to preach save what he found in God's Word. Notice to quit was thereupon promptly served upon the intrepid preacher; he tramped forth a homeless exile, accompanied by his wife and children. Wife and weans at night, wearied and weeping, sought refuge in a wayside inn; Gerhardt, unable to comfort them, went out into a wood to pray. As he prayed, the text, "Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass," recurred to his mind, and comforted him so amazingly that he paced to and fro under the forest trees, and began composing a hymn, Englishised by John Wesley, beginning with the verse — "Give to the winds thy fears. Hope and be undismayed: God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears; God shall lift up thy head."Returning to the inn, he cheered his wife with the text and the hymn, and they went to bed rejoicing in the confident hope that God would take care of them. They had hardly retired before a thunderous knocking at the door aroused them all. It was a mounted messenger from Duke Christian Meresberg, offering him "Church, people, home, and livelihood." So, adds the Chronicle, the Lord took care of His servant. (W. T. Stead.) Parallel Verses KJV: But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.WEB: But you, Yahweh, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. |
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