Psalm 3 A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
A little history will be provided here. King David’s son, Absalom, had determined to take over the thrown of his father and so he orchestrated by conspiracy and deceit a revolt against King David which resulted in David having to flee from the palace and from Jerusalem as Absalom was out to kill him. Besides being heart broken that his son would do such a thing, David had to deal with taunting and rejection by some of the people and with life in the wilderness fleeing as he had once done from King Saul. See the entire story in 2 Samuel beginning in chapter 13.
Verse 1 LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
King David was facing military attack from his son Absalom who had over 12,000 men at his disposal for pursuit of his father. His throne had been taken, his concubines had been taken and defiled, his city had been taken, and many of those people whom King David thought were his friends, were now in the camp of Absalom, expecting him to become the next king of Israel. And on top of all of this trouble, King David felt the pain of being betrayed by a son whom he loved very much. He was fleeing for his life and did not have the physical means of solving this situation.
Application: King David is described in Scripture as “a man after his (God’s) own heart”. In other words, even though David sinned and made many mistakes, he knew his God and his heart’s desire was to please God. And because he was a servant of the Most High God, Satan and his devils were right there to tempt, to cause to stumble, and to try to destroy him. So King David had many trials and tribulations in his life which he was able to overcome because of his complete trust and faith in the LORD. All Christian believers who are servants of God are also enemies of Satan and his devils and so, just like King David, temptations and trials will come from evil spirits in an effort to cause the believer to stumble and fall and in attempts to destroy that which is the LORD God’s. But like King David, the Christian believer will be an over-comer when trusting completely by faith in the LORD and in His ability to sustain and to provide victory.
Verses 2-3 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. 3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
So the talk about town and in the highways and byways of Israel was that King David would not get any help from God, he was off the throne, and Absalom would destroy him and become king in his place. Absalom had all the resources of the kingdom at his disposal and so it would take a miracle to save King David and to place him back on the throne. But King David knew where his help came from and it was from the LORD. God would be David’s shield and protect him. The Hebrew word translated as “lifter up” is “ruwm” and it means to rise up, to be exalted, and to be set on high. So King David knew and trusted the LORD and had no doubt that He would exalt him once again. The Hebrew word “Selah” is thought to be a musical term indicating accentuation, a pause, or an interruption.
Verse 4 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
So when facing this insurmountable problem involving his family, his throne, and his nation, King David turned to the LORD and cried out to Him for help. The Hebrew word translated as “cried” is “qara” and it means to call for help with a loud sound. This was no quiet prayer on the part of David, but a deep, emotional outcry for God to intercede on his behalf and for the will of God to be performed.
Verse 5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.
After sharing his thoughts, feelings, and fears with the LORD, David was able to lay down where he and his party were camped and to sleep. He did not know for sure if the army of Absalom would arrive in the night and kill those who were with him, or if he would have to take defensive action against his son, Absalom, and kill him. He had no definitive answers to his life and death dilemma or a definitive plan of action, but he had complete confidence in the LORD and so he was able to simply go to sleep. Remember that King David was not a young man when this event in his life happened, and he would have been made weary from the effort of fleeing the city and putting distance between himself and his son. He woke up the next day still alive and feeling better. His hope was in the LORD.
Verse 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
Not only was he feeling better, but all fear, which is an evil spirit, was gone and he knew he could weather this storm of life like he had done with all the other challenges he had faced.
Application: So often people in the world will watch a Christian believer in a time of stress and wonder why the Christian is not falling apart like those people round him/her. They do not understand that the Christian believer has the indwelling of the LORD Jesus Christ in the form of the Holy Ghost/Spirit and therefore they have the peace of God that passeth all understanding. King David had the anointing of God, given by Samuel the prophet, and therefore, like today’s Christians, David was able to cast all of his cares upon the LORD and then wait to see how the LORD was going to work all things out for his good. When God is on your side, who can come against you? Think about it.
Verse 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.
The connotation here is of a person being challenged by being struck on the side of the face. In European culture at one time, a glove was removed from the hand of the challenger and it was struck across the face of the man being challenged to a duel or fight. The man being challenged had no recourse but to accept the challenge and duel or fight as he would be deemed a coward if he declined. And the connotation of broken teeth is a more physical picture of the ungodly being defeated by the LORD. The enemies of King David had been challenged by God because they had come against the servant of God, and He would defeat them and silence them and bring victory to His servant, David.
Verse 8 Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. (Psalm 3)
The Hebrew word translated as “salvation” is “yashuwah” and it means salvation, deliverance, or victory.
Application: In Old Covenant times, people were saved by bringing animals into the Temple and sacrificing them for their sins. The High Priest had to first offer a sacrifice for his own sins before he could intercede for the sins of others. Jesus Christ is the Christian believer’s High Priest, and because He had/has no sin, He can intercede for people continually. He was/is the final sacrificial Lamb through which people in the New Covenant times are delivered from and have victory over sin, death and Hell. Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven. There is no other path a man or woman can take that will get them from this earthly life to the Heavenly spiritual life in eternity. Salvation does belong to the LORD and He does bless His people by saving them from their sins, and from eternity in Hell. Amen.