Inspired by the singing of the late, Rev. Donald Vails and Thomas Whitfield… Read Full Bio ↴Inspired by the singing of the late, Rev. Donald Vails and Thomas Whitfield, Cage (born December 15, 1962 - )began singing gospel music as a teenager. He also served as music director for the New Birth Church in Atlanta for a decade. He is now currently serving as the Minister of Music at Ebenezer A.M.E Church, Fort Washington, MD.

Thou Art A Shield For Me: Psalm 3
Byron Cage Lyrics

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[Verse 1:]
Lord, how are they increased that trouble me,
Many are they that rise up against me.
Many there be which say of my soul,
There is no help for Him in God.

[Chorus:]
But Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me;

My glory, You lift mine head.
But Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me;
My glory, the lifter up of mine head.

[Verse 2:]
I cried unto the Lord with my voice,
And He heard me out of His holy hill.
I laid me down and slept;
I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.

[Chorus]

[Verse 3:]
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people,
That have set themselves against me round about.
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people,
That have set themselves against me round about.

[Chorus]

[Vamp:]
Thank You for lifting,
Thank You for lifting,
Thank You for lifting mine head.

[Chorus]

[Vamp]

Overall Meaning

Byron Cage's song "Thou Art A Shield For Me: Psalm 3" is a powerful proclamation of faith in the face of adversity. The song is based on the biblical psalm of the same name, which recounts the experiences of King David as he fled from his enemies. The lyrics of the song capture David's sense of despair as he describes how his enemies are increasing and rising up against him. However, despite this, David holds on to his faith in God, proclaiming that the Lord is his shield and the lifter of his head.

The opening verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, as David describes the overwhelming nature of his enemies' attacks. He notes the many people who have set themselves against him, and the fact that some are saying that there is no help for him in God. Despite this, David doesn't give up hope, but instead proclaims God as his shield and the one who will lift him up. The chorus of the song repeats this refrain, emphasizing the importance of God's protection and provision in David's life.

In the second verse, David recounts how he cried out to God for help, and how God heard and sustained him. This sense of God's attentiveness and care is echoed in the chorus, as David praises God for being his shield and his glory. The third verse is a repetition of the idea of David's enemies being numerous and surrounding him, but again David asserts that he will not be afraid because of his faith in God. The song ends with a vamp that thanks God for his lifting up of David's head.

Line by Line Meaning

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me,
I am troubled by many people, and their number seems to keep increasing.

Many are they that rise up against me.
Numerous people are opposing me and trying to harm me.

Many there be which say of my soul,
There are many who speak ill of me and doubt my abilities.

There is no help for Him in God.
People have lost faith in me and believe that God will not intervene to help me.

But Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me;
Despite the opposition I face, I trust that God will protect me from harm.

My glory, You lift mine head.
God will give me the strength to overcome my troubles and restore my dignity.

I cried unto the Lord with my voice,
I prayed to God, expressing my troubles and asking for help.

And He heard me out of His holy hill.
God answered my prayers from a place of sanctity and holiness.

I laid me down and slept;
Despite my troubles, I was able to find rest and peaceful sleep.

I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.
With God's help, I was able to wake up from my rest and face my challenges with renewed strength.

I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people,
No matter how many people stand against me, I refuse to be afraid.

That have set themselves against me round about.
People have surrounded me and made it clear that they want to harm me, but I will not give in to fear.

Thank You for lifting,
I am grateful to God for giving me the strength to overcome my challenges.

Thank You for lifting,
I express my gratitude to God for lifting me up and helping me stand strong.

Thank You for lifting mine head.
I am thankful to God for restoring my dignity and giving me the courage to face my troubles.

Contributed by Zoe S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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