Psalm 3

Psa 3:1

Psalms 3-6: Morning, evening, morning, evening. Poss ref to daily sacrifices (Exo 29:38-42) and daily incense (Exo 30:1-8). Incense = prayers of saints (Rev 5:8-10; 8:4; Luk 1:10; Psa 141:2).

SUPERSCRIPTION: "A PSALM OF DAVID, WHEN HE FLED FROM HIS SON ABSALOM": Historical background: 2Sa 15-18.

The righteous are rarely in a majority (Mat 7:13,14; Luk 13:24; Gal 1:6; 2Ti 4:3,10).

Psa 3:2

Example re David: Shimei (2Sa 16:5-8). Re Jesus: Mat 27:43; Mar 15:31; Isa 53:3,4.

See Lesson, Selah.

Psa 3:3

SHIELD: "Magen", a small shield, or "target". (The other word for target, "zinnah", in Psa 5:12: a great shield.)

YOU BESTOW GLORY ON ME (AV "[You are...] my glory"): See Jer 9:23,24: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight."

AND LIFT UP MY HEAD: 'Although I hang my head in sorrow, yet I shall very soon lift it up in joy and thanksgiving."

David was fleeing from Absalom when he wrote this Psalm. His kingdom was being held in the balance. He had fled from Jerusalem, been kicked out of his home, pelted with stones and insults, had some of his best friends desert him and his own son was after his life. If there was ever anyone with worries and a reason to panic, it was David. But David had the LORD God of Israel on his side. He said, "You are a shield around me, O LORD; You bestow glory on me and lift up my head." David totally trusted in his God. He knew that no-one could get to him unless God let them. He had perfect peace because God was with him. We can see how much peace he had and how effective it was in his life when we read, "I lie down and sleep; I wake again because the LORD sustains me. I will not fear tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side."

When we have troubles, can we lie down and sleep like David did? Trust God and let his peace fill your life.

Psa 3:4

Distress makes prayer fervent, as does nothing else (Psa 120:1). Here is the key to the question of human suffering: that man may thereby be turned back to the Father. Even the Lord learned obedience by his sufferings (Heb 5:7,8).

See Lesson, Selah.

Psa 3:5

"Be not anxious for the morrow... your heavenly father knows that you have need" (Mat 6:32,34).

"He who did keep me waking
Has kept me still
Through the dark, silent night;
And now I thrill
To greet once more the light.

"His power unseen, from sleep
Unlocked my eyes,
With strength afresh renewed;
And I arise
With song of gratitude.

"Thus, if death's night at length
Should darkly close,
And in my earthly bed, confined and deep,
I take repose,
Stiller, profounder sleep,

"To know a yet more marvelous waking,
A fairer morn...
May I with gladness say
I slept, but wake new-born
To brighter day"
(NPH).

Psa 3:6

TENS OF THOUSANDS: Sym a great multitude: 1Co 4:15; 14:19. The manifestation of God in a multitude: Deu 33:2; Jud 1:14. David slew "ten thousands" (1Sa 18:7), and was worth "ten thousand" of his men (2Sa 18:3). And Christ, the greater-than-David, is "the chief among 10,000" (Song 5:10).

DRAWN UP AGAINST ME ON EVERY SIDE: Jesus encircled by dogs, lions, strong bulls (Psa 22:12,15,21).

Psa 3:7

ARISE, O LORD! DELIVER ME, O MY GOD!: (1) David's plea for God to preserve his life. (2) Resurrection of Jesus: Joh 20:1; 1Co 15:4,14,18,20. (3) "Arise", as the sun of righteousness (Mal 4:2; Isa 30:26), with healing in your beams, calling forth the dew of resurrected saints (Psa 110:3; Isa 26:19), and heralding the dawn of a new "day" (2Pe 3:13).

STRIKE ALL YOUR ENEMIES ON THE JAW: Or, "with" the jaw: ref to "Lehi", scene of Samson's great victory with the jawbone of an ass (Jdg 15:15). So David is classing Absalom and his followers as Philistines!

BREAK THE TEETH OF THE WICKED: The wild beasts of David's youth, or that other "wild beast" of the Philistines -- Goliath. Break teeth = bruise head, as in Gen 3:15. Cp Psa 58:4-6; 1Pe 5:8.

Psa 3:8

FROM THE LORD COMES DELIVERANCE: Sw "help" in v 2. The answer to the infidel's taunt: "There is no help for him in God."

MAY YOUR BLESSING BE ON YOUR PEOPLE: See Psa 4:7, with which this psalm is linked by a closing "Selah". See Lesson, Selah.

SUBSCRIPTION: "FOR THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC. WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS": "Neginoth" (Psa 3, 5, 53, 54, 60 -- "Neginah", singular, 66, and 75; Hab 3:19; Isa 38:20). "Neginoth" sig "to strike", as upon a musical instrument, or in affliction. Trials of affliction are for the development of godly character; so sing in the Philippian jail.