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Psalms 3

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The Crisis and the Taunt 1–2

1
A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. ​
2
Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. ​

Trusting God as My Shield 3–4

3
But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. ​
4
I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. ​

Peaceful Sleep Amidst Danger 5–6

5
I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. ​
6
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

A Prayer for Divine Deliverance 7–8

7
Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. ​
8
Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for Psalms 3

Verse 1

when he fled from Absalom his son — The flight is told in 2 Sam 15: David 'went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up' (2 Sam 15:30). 'Trouble' is tsar, one who presses in a tight place, and 'many' (rab) is the word that opens v.2 as well: the enemies are counted twice.

Verse 2

There is no help for him in God — 'Help' is yeshuah, salvation, the same word as 'Salvation' in v.8, so the psalm's last verse answers the taunt. 'My soul' (nephesh) is David himself. The same mockery meets the afflicted in Ps 71:11 and, at the cross, Christ: 'He trusted in God; let him deliver him now' (Matt 27:43).

Verse 3

a shield for me — Magen, the small shield carried in the hand; the LORD takes the title in 'I am thy shield' (Gen 15:1). 'Glory' (kabod, literally weight) is what he is to David, not what David has. The 'lifter up of mine head' answers the enemies' words: the head is raised by the LORD (cf. Ps 27:6).

Verse 4

out of his holy hill — Zion, where the LORD had set his king (Ps 2:6). David had sent the ark of God back into the city, saying 'if I shall find favour in the eyes of the LORD, he will bring me again' (2 Sam 15:25). The answer came without it. 'Cried' is qara, to call out, and 'heard' is anah, to respond; the call and the answer are paired.

Verse 5

the LORD sustained me — Samak is to prop or bear up, to lean upon. The sequence 'laid… slept… awaked' is told as plain fact, with the reason given: the LORD held him. Ps 4:8 gives the same confidence at rest: 'I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.'

Verse 7

smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone — Lechi is the cheek or jaw; a blow there is an insult as well as a wound (Job 16:10). The breaking of 'the teeth of the ungodly' (rasha) takes from them the power to devour, as the prayer of Ps 58:6 asks. 'Arise, O LORD' is the cry of Ps 7:6; 'save' is yasha.

Verse 8

Salvation belongeth unto the LORD — Yeshuah, the word of the taunt in v.2: the help denied by men is declared the LORD's own. Jonah says the same from the fish: 'Salvation is of the LORD' (Jonah 2:9). The prayer 'thy blessing is upon thy people' turns from the king's trouble to all Israel; the saved of Rev 7:10 cry 'Salvation to our God'.