Psalm 3 Pt. 1

Good Morning Dear Readers!

Today is the Lord's day and I hope you can gather with your church family for a time of rejoicing and worship as we set aside the things of earth to focus upon our Father in Heaven.  I am live streaming our services at home again this week.  

I am hoping that perhaps next Sunday I can join my church family for worship, preaching, and seeking the Spirit of God's transforming work in my own heart and in the hearts of my family.

I have many books containing vivid photos of the desert areas south of Jerusalem.  The images evoke feelings of desolation, isolation and helplessness.  Yet, they also remind us of the hope we have in Christ.






Psalm 3 was written by King David when he was betrayed by his own son, Absalom.  The Psalm captures the immensity of the problems facing David.  His own son set in motion a strong conspiracy to take the kingdom from his father. King David's trusted advisor Ahithophel was one of the organizers of the takeover.  

    

As we read through the text below we will see how David's thoughts would perhaps reflect the barren conditions surrounding him and cause him to be overwhelmed.  The photo above shows how bleak the land can be.  Difficult traveling through sand, rocks and steep mountains.  No shade and no relief from the intense heat.  No ready access to water. No nearby market for purchasing food.

Yet, we see some beautiful colors in the background of the photo and we see a couple of very hardy trees growing in the foreground of the picture.  When our gaze turns upward our Gracious God sends us hope.

Names of God used 8 times in 8 verses.

This alerts us to the centrality of Jehovah to David's heart. The name Jehovah (LORD) is used 6 times in this Psalm.  Jehovah is the covenant keeping God who never changes.  He is the God who dwells in eternity and He is the God who draws near to those who have a humble spirit and a contrite heart.  He is the Great I AM who spoke to Moses at the burning bush.

The Divine Name Elohim is used twice in this Psalm. Elohim is the unique name of God connected with creation.  It is the first name we read in Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God created..." God is Creator and Sustainer of all that exists.  It all belongs to Him and we are His subjects.  He is the God of power and unrivaled creativity that extends into the smallest details of all created things.  He is the God of order whose moral law must be obeyed.

Psalm 3:1  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. 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. 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. 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.

Verse 1

There are several unique phrases that are used in the Psalm. They are not found anywhere else in scripture.  David is in serious trouble as he has had to flee for his life in order to escape from Absalom.  The king is older and has walked with the LORD a long time.  David does not waste a single moment.  He immediately cries out to Jehovah because he knows that only his God can save him from the rebellious uprising. 

First unique phrase is "how are they increased that trouble me!' 

This expression has the idea of a rapid multiplication of David's enemies.  We see this recorded in the book of 2 Samuel and it is clear that many people fell away from David and followed Absalom.

2 Samuel 15:12  And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom. 

It is not shocking that David poured out his heart to Jehovah and accurately described his great problem to the only one who could truly help him.  The number people who trouble David are growing by leaps and bounds and the king is forced to sneak out by the back door and run away to safety. 

Verse 2

We find another unique phrase in verse 2 when David says that there are multitudes conspiring to overthrow him.  "There is no help for him in God. Selah." They are saying that Elohim cannot help David. He cannot save him or bring him deliverance. 

This is the kind of talk from his enemies that really gets under the skin of king David.  They are wagging their tongues and mocking Jehovah by saying there is no help for him in God. David has years of accumulated experiences proving that Jehovah will hear and help the sheep of His pasture.  It grieves David that the people would say such contemptible things about God. 

It is noteworthy that David placed a "Selah" at the end of that thought. The word "selah" calls for a pause to reflect on what was just said prior to the insertion of a selah. 

Verse 3

This verse has 2 more unique phrases.  David turns his thoughts away from his enemies and the foolish things that they say about God. 

" But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head."

He states 3 things that he knows to be true about Jehovah. First, a unique phrase is when David says Jehovah is a shield for him.  This is a military term that means a defensive weapon to protect from arrows, stones, spears.  Jehovah would shield David from his enemies and He would deliver the king safely back to Jerusalem. 

Next David says that Jehovah is "my glory."  This simply means that David has learned to lean upon the everlasting arms of the LORD and that David repays Him with honor and glory.  The word "glory" means to ascribe great worth to Jehovah.  It means to give much weight to who He is and what He says in His word.

The last unique phrase used in this verse is where David says that Jehovah is "the lifter up of mine head."  The idea of lifting up is exalting someone or of setting them back up on their feet. 

David finds that Jehovah shields and protects him to such a degree that David gives all glory to Jehovah.  David discovered that Jehovah will lift him up and comfort the sorrowing king as he fled for his life.

Verse 4

Now we are halfway through Psalm 3. David has some more beautiful truth about Jehovah that he would like to share with us. 

 I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

It is as if David is making fun of his enemies.  They pray to lifeless lumps of stone.  They fall down before metal figurines.  They cut down trees and make an idol out of a branch or stump and then they bow down before it. 

Oh, the folly of idolatry.  They carry their idols around. The lifeless idols cannot see, cannot hear, cannot feel and cannot do anything. David's position is 'You can go ahead and waste your time following idols but I will pray to the living God of heaven because He will hear me and answer my prayers."

The phrase "I cried unto the LORD" is only used 3 times in scripture, all in the book of Psalms. 

David states what he did.  He cried out to Jehovah with his voice and Jehovah heard him out of His holy hill.  David is showing us that this is all we need to do in times of distress, times of trouble or times of turmoil.  Call out to the One True God of Heaven. Jehovah will hear and He will answer. 


Points to Ponder....

• Jehovah must be central in our thinking so that He is shaping our lives and preparing us for the trials that will come.

• David's enemies were increasing but his faith in Jehovah was strong.

• David was most distressed because the rebels demeaned and denigrated who Jehovah is. 

• David used the word "Selah" 3 times in the Psalm to remind us that we need to stop and remember what we know to be true of God when our circumstances are hard. 

• Jehovah will protect His sheep and lift up our heads when we need His comfort. 

This is another Psalm straight from the heart of King David. He was going through the painful trial of having his own son seek to kill him and take the kingdom by force.  As a father, David's heart was broken by this turn of events.  Yet, he shows his maturing faith by turning to Jehovah and having pleaded his case, being content to leave things in the hands of the Almighty God.  May we seek to follow David's example when trouble comes and earnestly pray to Jehovah because He cares and draws near to those who have a humble heart and contrite spirit.

Bob