Psalm 3:3
But Thou, O LORD, art a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
This is one of the tenderest and most beautiful images in all of the Psalms. It’s hard to improve upon it. “The lifter of my head.” The image of God is one of almost unsupportable pathos. How many people are there in the world, shuffling through life, eyes down on the ground, full of some grinding shame, or painful humiliation, or hopeless despair? This verse speaks to us all as God so gently puts His hand beneath our chin and lifts our faltering gaze until we look Him in the eye and find not a Condemning Judge, but a Father looking back: solemn, full of love, and full of power to save. Thanks be to God, the lifter of my head!
Mark P. Shea is a popular Catholic writer and speaker. The author of numerous books, his most recent work is The Work of Mercy (Servant) and The Heart of Catholic Prayer (Our Sunday Visitor). Mark contributes numerous articles to many magazines, including his popular column “Connecting the Dots” for the National Catholic Register. Mark is known nationally for his one minute “Words of Encouragement” on Catholic radio. He also maintains the Catholic and Enjoying It blog and regularly blogs for National Catholic Register. He lives in Washington state with his wife, Janet, and their four sons.
