TRV
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Psalms 3:4–8. His three-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
David, having stirred up himself by the irritations of his enemies to take hold on God as his God, and so gained comfort in looking upward when, if he looked round about him, nothing appeared but what was discouraging, here looks back with pleasing reflections upon the benefit he had derived from trusting in God and looks forward with pleasing expectations of a very bright and happy issue to which the dark dispensation he was now under would shortly be brought.
I.See with what comfort he looks back upon the communion he had had with God, and the communications of his favour to him, either in some former trouble he had been in, and through God's goodness got through, or in this hitherto. David had been exercised with many difficulties, often oppressed and brought very low; but still he had found God all-sufficient. He now remembered with pleasure,
1.That his troubles had always brought him to his knees, and that, in all his difficulties and dangers, he had been enabled to acknowledge God and to lift up his heart to him, and his voice too (this will be comfortable reflection when we are in trouble): I cried unto God with my voice. Care and grief do us good and no hurt when they set us a praying, and engage us, not only to speak to God, but to cry to him, as those that are in earnest. And though God understands the language of the heart, when the voice is not heard (Sa1 1:13), and values not the hypocritical prayers of those who cause their voice to be heard on high (Isa 58:4), vox et praeterea nihil - mere sound, yet, when the earnestness of the voice comes from the fervency of the heart, it shall be taken notice of, in the account, that we cried unto God with our voice.
2.That he had always found God ready to answer his prayers: He heard me out of his holy hill, from heaven, the high and holy place, from the ark on Mount Sion, whence he used to give answers to those that sought to him. David had ordered Zadok to carry back the ark into the city when he was flying from Absalom (Sa2 15:25), knowing that God was not tied, no, not to the ark of his presence, and that, notwithstanding the distance of place, he could by faith receive answers of peace from the holy hill. No such things can fix a gulf between the communications of God's grace towards us and the operations of his grace in us, between his favour and our faith. The ark of the covenant was in Mount Zion, and all the answers to our prayers come from the promises of that covenant. Christ was set King upon the holy hill of Zion (Psa 2:6), and it is through him, whom the Father hears always, that our prayers are heard.
3.That he had always been very safe and very easy under the divine protection (Psa 3:5): "I laid myself down and slept, composed and quiet; and awaked refreshed, for the Lord sustained me." (1.) This is applicable to the common mercies of every night, which we ought to give thanks for alone, and with our families, every morning. Many have not where to lay their head (but wander in deserts), or, if they have, dare not lie down for fear of the enemy; but we have laid ourselves down in peace. Many lie down and cannot sleep, but are full of tossings to and fro till the dawning of the day, through pain of body, or anguish of mind, or the continual alarms of fear in the night; but we lie down and sleep in safety, though incapable of doing any thing then for our own preservation. Many lie down and sleep, and never awake again, they sleep the sleep of death, as the first-born of the Egyptians; but we lie down and sleep, and awake again to the light and comfort of another day; and whence is it, but because the Lord has sustained us with sleep as with food? We have been safe under his protection and easy in the arms of his good providence. (2.) It seems here to be meant of the wonderful quietness and calmness of David's spirit, in the midst of his dangers. Having by prayer committed himself and his cause to God, and being sure of his protection, his heart was fixed, and he was easy. The undutifulness of his son, the disloyalty of his subjects, the treachery of many of his friends, the hazard of his person, the fatigues of his march, and the uncertainty of the event, never deprived him of an hour's sleep, nor gave any disturbance to his repose; for the Lord, by his grace and the consolations of his Spirit, powerfully sustained him and made him easy. It is a great mercy when we are in trouble to have our minds stayed upon God, so as never either to eat or sleep with trembling and astonishment. (3.) Some of the ancients apply it to the resurrection of Christ. In his sufferings he offered up strong cries, and was heard; and therefore, though he laid down and slept the sleep of death, yet he awaked the third day, for the Lord sustained him, that he should not see corruption.
4.That God had often broken the power and restrained the malice of his enemies, had smitten them upon the cheek-bone (Psa 3:7), had silenced them and spoiled their speaking, blemished them and put them to shame, smitten them on the cheek reproachfully, had disabled them to do the mischief they intended; for he had broken their teeth. Saul and the Philistines, who were sometimes ready to swallow him up, could not effect what they designed. The teeth that are gnashed or sharpened against God's people shall be broken. When, at any time, the power of the church's enemies seems threatening, it is good to remember how often God has broken it; and we are sure that his arm is not shortened. He can stop their mouths and tie their hands.
II.See with what confidence he looks forward to the dangers he had yet in prospect. Having put himself under God's protection and often found the benefit of it,
1.His fears were all stilled and silenced, Psa 3:6. With what a holy bravery does he bid defiance to the impotent menaces and attempts of his enemies! "I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that either in a foreign invasion or an intestine rebellion set themselves, or encamp, against me round about." No man seemed less safe (his enemies are numerous, ten thousands; they are spiteful and resolute, "They have set themselves against me; nay, they have prevailed far, and seem to have gained their point; for they are against me round about on every side, thousands against one"), and yet no man was more secure: "I will not be afraid, for all this; they cannot hurt me, and therefore they shall not frighten me; whatever prudent methods I take for my own preservation, I will not disquiet myself, distrust my God, nor doubt of a good issue at last." When David, in his flight from Absalom, bade Zadok carry back the ark, he spoke doubtfully of the issue of his present troubles, and concluded, like a humble penitent, Here I am; let him do to me what seemeth to him good, Sa2 15:26. But now, like a strong believer, he speaks confidently, and has no fear concerning the event. Note, A cheerful resignation to God is the way to obtain a cheerful satisfaction and confidence in God.
2.His prayers were quickened and encouraged, Psa 3:7. He believed God was his Saviour, and yet prays; nay, he therefore prays, Arise, O Lord! save me, O my God! Promises of salvation do not supersede, but engage, our petitions for it. He will for this be enquired of.
3.His faith became triumphant. He began the psalm with complaints of the strength and malice of his enemies, but concludes it with exultation in the power and grace of his God, and now sees more with him than against him, Psa 3:8. Two great truths he here builds his confidence upon and fetches comfort from.
(1.)That salvation belongeth unto the Lord; he has power to save, be the danger ever so great; it is his prerogative to save, when all other helps and succours fail; it is his pleasure, it is his property, it is his promise to those that are his, whose salvation is not of themselves, but of the Lord. Therefore all that have the Lord for their God, according to the tenour of the new covenant, are sure of salvation; for he that is their God is the God of salvation.
(2.)That his blessing is upon his people; he not only has power to save them, but he has assured them of his kind and gracious intentions towards them. He has, in his word, pronounced a blessing upon his people; and we are bound to believe that that blessing does accordingly rest upon them, though there be not the visible effects of it. Hence we may conclude that God's people, though they may lie under the reproaches and censures of men, are surely blessed of him, who blesses indeed, and therefore can command a blessing.
In singing this, and praying it over, we must own the satisfaction we have had in depending upon God and committing ourselves to him, and encourage ourselves, and one another to continue still hoping and quietly waiting for the salvation of the Lord.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
5 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
As in the previous psalm so here the future is prophesied.… “I lie down, and I sleep” is spoken prophetically, namely, I will lie down, I will sleep, I will rise up, because you, Oh Lord, are my sustainer, my glory and the lifter of my head.… For “sleep” indicates death, concerning which the future is prophesied for us. It refers to the time of the life of the Savior, which when it was finished, prophecy came to an end; when, namely, the Son of man Christ descended even to hell and the Savior was clearly shown to the captives who were awaiting destruction; so as in the time of his resurrection from death many bodies of the saints who had been sleeping will live again with him, in whom was the likeness of the spirit of David.
This psalm can pertain to David or to Christ, and through him to all the saints.
The prophetic psalms are by no means silent on the subject of [Christ’s] resurrection.… What other meaning can be taken from these words in Psalm 3, sung in the person of Christ?… For, unless one sees in this sleep the death, and in this awaking the resurrection of Christ thus prophesied, one is reduced to the silly supposition that the prophet wished to communicate to us the really remarkable news that he himself fell asleep and later on woke up!
Do not let these words, where he says, “since the Lord took me up,” strike your minds as meaning that Christ himself did not raise up his own body. The Father raised him up, and he also raised himself up. How shall we prove to you that he raised himself up? Call to mind what he said to the Jews: “Pull down this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
The words, "I slept, and took rest; and rose, for the Lord will take me up," [Psalm 3:5] lead us to believe that this Psalm is to be understood as in the Person of Christ; for they sound more applicable to the Passion and Resurrection of our Lord, than to that history in which David's flight is described from the face of his rebellious son. And, since it is written of Christ's disciples, "The sons of the bridegroom fast not as long as the bridegroom is with them;" [Matthew 9:15] it is no wonder if by his undutiful son be here meant that undutiful disciple who betrayed Him. From whose face although it may be understood historically that He fled, when on his departure He withdrew with the rest to the mountain; yet in a spiritual sense, when the Son of God, that is the Power and Wisdom of God, abandoned the mind of Judas; when the Devil wholly occupied him; as it is written, "The Devil entered into his heart," [John 13:27] may it be well understood that Christ fled from his face; not that Christ gave place to the Devil, but that on Christ's departure the Devil took possession. Which departure, I suppose, is called a flight in this Psalm, because of its quickness; which is indicated also by the word of our Lord, saying, "That you do, do quickly." [John 13:27] So even in common conversation we say of anything that does not come to mind, it has fled from me; and of a man of much learning we say, nothing flies from him. Wherefore truth fled from the mind of Judas, when it ceased to enlighten him. But Absalom, as some interpret, in the Latin tongue signifies, Patris pax, a father's peace. And it may seem strange, whether in the history of the kings, when Absalom carried on war against his father; or in the history of the New Testament, when Judas was the betrayer of our Lord; how "father's peace" can be understood. But both in the former place they who read carefully, see that David in that war was at peace with his son, who even with sore grief lamented his death, saying, "O Absalom, my son, would God I had died for you!" [2 Samuel 18:33] And in the history of the New Testament by that so great and so wonderful forbearance of our Lord; in that He bore so long with him as if good, when He was not ignorant of his thoughts; in that He admitted him to the Supper in which He committed and delivered to His disciples the figure of His Body and Blood; finally, in that He received the kiss of peace at the very time of His betrayal; it is easily understood how Christ showed peace to His betrayer, although he was laid waste by the intestine war of so abominable a device. And therefore is Absalom called "father's peace," because his father had the peace, which he had not.
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Summary
Psalms 3:5 powerfully encapsulates King David's profound trust in God's unfailing care amidst severe personal and national crisis. Despite facing betrayal and mortal threats from his own son, Absalom, David declares his ability to find deep, restorative sleep and awaken safely, attributing this radical peace and preservation solely to the Lord's active, sustaining power. This verse serves as a testament to how divine sustenance enables a believer to experience tranquility and renewal, confident in God's protective presence even when external circumstances are dire, illustrating that true security is rooted in God's constant, upholding hand, not in the absence of danger.
Context
Literary Context
Psalms 3 is a morning psalm, a prayer of lament and trust, likely composed by David upon waking. It opens with David's desperate cry to God concerning his numerous adversaries who mock his faith and question God's ability to deliver him, as seen in Psalms 3:1-2. The verse "I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me" marks a pivotal turning point within the psalm, demonstrating David's practical application of the trust he explicitly declares in Psalms 3:3-4. His peaceful sleep and confident awakening, despite the surrounding threats, serve as concrete evidence validating his earlier declaration that God is indeed his shield, his glory, and the lifter of his head. The psalm then transitions into a renewed expression of confidence in God's deliverance and His blessing upon His people, culminating in Psalms 3:7-8.
Historical & Cultural Context
The superscription of Psalms 3 attributes it to David "when he fled from Absalom his son." This refers to the harrowing period detailed in 2 Samuel 15, where David, the anointed king of Israel, was forced to flee Jerusalem barefoot and weeping, betrayed by his own son and many trusted advisors. This was a crisis of unprecedented magnitude, threatening his life, his throne, and the very stability of the kingdom. In ancient Near Eastern culture, a king's ability to maintain peace and security for his realm and himself was paramount; David's flight signified extreme vulnerability and humiliation. His ability to sleep soundly in such perilous circumstances, surrounded by enemies and in fear for his life, would have been culturally astonishing, a direct counter-narrative to the expected anxiety and sleeplessness of one in his position. It underscored a profound, supernatural peace rooted in divine protection, demonstrating that his security was not dependent on human strength or circumstances.
Key Themes
This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Psalms and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost is the theme of Divine Protection and Sustenance, highlighting God's active and personal involvement in preserving the lives of His faithful. David's experience is a vivid illustration that God's care is not abstract but tangible, enabling rest even when danger is imminent, as also affirmed in Psalms 4:8. It also underscores the theme of Peace Amidst Adversity, demonstrating that genuine faith can produce an inner tranquility that transcends chaotic external circumstances. This echoes the "peace that surpasses all understanding" found in Philippians 4:7. Finally, the verse speaks to God's Enduring Faithfulness. The very act of waking up safely, day after day, becomes a fresh testimony to God's unwavering commitment to uphold those who trust in Him, reinforcing the biblical concept of God as a reliable and constant refuge, as He promises in Isaiah 26:3.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This primitive root means "to be slack or languid," and by implication, "to sleep." In the context of Psalms 3:5, it signifies a deep, undisturbed slumber, a physical state of complete repose. For David, facing mortal threats, this was not merely a biological necessity but a profound act of trust, surrendering his anxieties and vulnerability into God's care. It contrasts sharply with the sleepless nights often associated with fear and distress, highlighting a supernatural peace.
This primitive root means "to awake" or "to rouse," often conveying the idea of abruptness in starting up from sleep. The act of waking implies not only the cessation of sleep but also a renewal of strength and consciousness. For David, his awakening was a direct result of God's sustaining power, a fresh testimony to divine preservation. It signifies a new day granted by God's grace, a re-engagement with life's challenges from a position of renewed strength and confidence, rather than succumbing to the night's dangers.
This crucial primitive root means "to prop," "to support," "to uphold," "to lean upon," or "to strengthen." It implies a strong, active, and continuous divine intervention. It is not a passive allowance but an energetic, personal act of God's power that enabled David to rest securely and rise safely. The use of çâmak emphasizes God's direct and powerful involvement in preserving David's life and peace, acting as his firm foundation and constant support, making his survival and rest a direct result of divine action.
Verse Breakdown
"I laid me down and slept"
This clause describes David's deliberate act of surrendering to sleep. Despite the overwhelming external circumstances—his life in danger, his kingdom in turmoil, and his own son pursuing him—David chose to lie down and rest. This is not a description of unconsciousness due to exhaustion, but a conscious decision to trust, allowing himself to be vulnerable in sleep, knowing that his protection lay elsewhere. His ability to sleep profoundly underscores his deep faith, contrasting sharply with the expected anxiety of one in his dire situation.
"I awaked"
This simple yet profound statement attests to the miraculous nature of his survival and renewal. In a situation where he could have been easily assassinated during the night, or succumbed to the mental anguish that often prevents sleep, David not only slept but also awoke. His awakening signifies a new day, a fresh opportunity, and a clear sign of God's watchful care throughout the night. It is a daily miracle, a tangible demonstration of God's faithfulness in preserving his life.
"for the LORD sustained me"
This final clause provides the theological explanation and the ultimate reason for David's peaceful sleep and safe awakening. It is not due to his own strength, the absence of danger, or the vigilance of his guards, but solely because the sovereign Lord (Yahweh, H3068) actively upheld him. The word "sustained" (çâmak) emphasizes God's direct, powerful, and continuous support, serving as the bedrock of David's peace and security. This declaration transforms the personal experience into a universal truth about God's character.
Literary Devices
Psalms 3:5 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. The most prominent is Contrast, where David's profound internal peace and secure sleep are juxtaposed against the extreme external peril and the multitude of enemies described in the preceding verses. This stark difference highlights the supernatural nature of his tranquility, which defies natural expectation and human capacity. Personal Testimony is central, as David uses first-person pronouns ("I laid me down," "I awaked") to share his direct, lived experience of divine intervention, making the truth of God's sustaining power deeply personal and relatable. The acts of "sleeping" and "waking" also function as Symbolism: sleep symbolizes trust, surrender, and vulnerability, while waking symbolizes renewal, divine preservation, and the faithfulness of God bringing about a new day. The verse's concise structure, moving from action to outcome to divine cause, also lends it a sense of clear, declarative Assertion, reinforcing the absolute certainty of God's active role as the ultimate Sustainer.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Psalms 3:5 is a powerful theological statement about the character of God and His relationship with His people. It reveals God as the ultimate Sustainer, whose active presence and power transcend human circumstances and anxieties. This verse affirms God's omnipotence and omnipresence, demonstrating that He is able to watch over His beloved even when they are most vulnerable, providing a peace that the world cannot offer. It underscores the biblical truth that true security is found not in human strength or favorable conditions, but in absolute reliance on the Lord. David's experience becomes a paradigm for all believers, inviting them to cast their anxieties upon God and find rest in His unfailing care, knowing that His sustaining hand is always present, even in the darkest hours.
Reflection and Application
Psalms 3:5 offers profound encouragement and a practical model for faith in a world often characterized by anxiety, uncertainty, and overwhelming challenges. David's ability to find deep, restorative sleep amidst mortal danger serves as a powerful invitation for us to surrender our worries and fears to the Lord. This verse reminds us that our peace is not contingent upon the absence of problems, but upon the active, sustaining presence of God. It calls us to cultivate a radical trust in His daily care, recognizing that every breath, every new day, and every moment of rest is a gift sustained by His grace. In our personal struggles, professional pressures, or global anxieties, we are invited to lay down our burdens, knowing that the Lord is actively upholding us. The simple act of waking each morning can become a conscious moment of gratitude and renewed dependence on God's unwavering faithfulness, transforming our perspective from one of fear to one of hopeful expectation, and empowering us to face the day with divine strength.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What was David's specific situation when he wrote this Psalm?
David wrote this psalm during one of the most traumatic periods of his life: when he was fleeing from his own son, Absalom, who had orchestrated a rebellion to usurp his throne. This event is detailed in 2 Samuel 15. David was not only facing an external military threat but also the profound personal pain of betrayal by his beloved son and many of his trusted advisors. He was forced to leave Jerusalem, vulnerable and in great distress, making his ability to sleep and wake up safely a remarkable testament to his faith in God's protection.
How can I experience the kind of peace and rest David describes amidst my own troubles?
David's experience in Psalms 3:5 is a direct result of his deep trust in God's sovereignty and protection. To experience similar peace, we are called to actively surrender our anxieties to God, as encouraged in 1 Peter 5:7. This involves prayer, acknowledging God's power and faithfulness, and consciously choosing to rest in His care rather than succumbing to worry. Just as David declared, "You, O Lord, are a shield about me" (Psalms 3:3), we can find peace by focusing on God's character as our protector and sustainer, allowing His presence to calm our fears and grant us true rest.
Does "the LORD sustained me" imply that God will prevent all harm or make my life easy?
No, "the LORD sustained me" does not guarantee an absence of hardship or an easy life. David's context clearly shows he was in immense danger and suffering. Instead, "sustained" (Hebrew çâmak) signifies God's active upholding and strengthening of His people through their trials. It means He provides the inner peace, resilience, and strength needed to endure, and ultimately, He preserves life and purpose according to His will. It's about God's faithfulness in upholding us even when circumstances are dire, ensuring that we are not overwhelmed and that His ultimate purposes for us prevail, as He promises in Isaiah 41:10. It is a promise of divine presence and empowerment, not necessarily the removal of all difficulties.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Psalms 3:5 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. David's experience of divine sustenance amidst mortal threat powerfully foreshadows the perfect trust of the Son of God. While David found peace in sleep, Jesus, in His humanity, also demonstrated perfect reliance on the Father, even sleeping soundly in a storm-tossed boat, rebuking the disciples' fear with a calm that could only come from divine assurance (Mark 4:38-39). More profoundly, Jesus's "laying down" and "awakening" points to His death and glorious resurrection. He willingly "laid down His life" on the cross, entrusting His spirit to the Father (Luke 23:46), entering a sleep of death for the sins of the world. His "awakening" on the third day, His glorious resurrection, is the ultimate testament to the Father's sustaining power, triumphing over sin and death. This act of God "sustaining" His Son through death and raising Him to new life is the very foundation of our hope and the source of our own peace. Through Christ, we are offered a peace that the world cannot give (John 14:27), and the promise that He, our great Shepherd, will sustain us through every trial, even death itself, bringing us to a glorious "awakening" in Him (Colossians 1:17) and ultimately to eternal life.