Psalm 3
I.Review:
1) Psalm 1:
i.Teaching Psalm that told us of the importance of the
Law.
ii.It introduced us to the reoccurring theme through
out the scriptures of the two choices. The path of
Godliness or the progression of Sin
iii.It revealed to us that blessedness was the result
of the Godliness described not the reward.
2) Psalm 2:
i.Was originally joined to Psalm 1.
ii.A Messianic Psalm - It identified the Godly man of
Psalm 1 to be God’s Son.
iii.It showed us that the blessedness of Psalm 1 is
rewarded to those who take refuge in the Son.
iv.It showed us the progression of evil played out in
the lives of evil men – and their impending
destruction.
·The first 2 Psalms have laid down the foundational
doctrines of all the Psalms to follow.
II. Introduction:
1) Psalm 3 is the first in a series of Psalms that
deals with struggles in the life of the godly,
which causes them to depend on God for strength.
2) It identifies itself as the prayer David prayed as
he fled his son Absalom.
3) It is called a morning Psalm because of v.s. 5 “I
lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD
sustains me.”
*Traditionally it is identified as the morning prayer of King David as he sought to draw new strength from God in the struggle that lies ahead.
Now that we understand the circumstances surrounding this Psalm lets read its verses.
Psalm 3:1-8
“A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom. “
“1 O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! 2 Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." Selah[1] 3 But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift[2] up my head. 4 To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah 5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. 6 I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side. 7 Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. 8 From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. Selah”
III. Structure of Psalm 3:
1) Psalm 3 firsts.
The first::
-Time David is specifically identified as the author.
-Psalm with a title.
-Time the word Psalm is used.
(meaning a poem to be sung with musical accompaniment)
-Psalm given a historical setting. (David fleeing from Absalom)
2) Understanding the setting of Psalm 3:
A) We know that this psalm was definitely written by
David during this time period because in the Hebrew Bible the statement “A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom. “ is present even though it is removed from many English translations.
B) The Psalm itself does not describe a historical account of Absalom’s revolt. Rather it captures the emotion of this ordeal from David’s perspective.
*To see the full extent of the pressure David is under read 2 Samuel 15 & 16 in-conjunction with this Psalm.
David is highly emotional – but the morning sun shines bright new rays of hope into David’s hopeless situation as he turns his attention heaven ward and places his trust back in God to deliver him.
Because this is an emotional Poem / Prayer we cannot break it up into the easy preaching outline that we could psalm 1&2.
We will seek to break it up according to the Stages of David’s emotion as He regains his confidence in God. The
IV. Self Searching? / Complaint to God
“1 O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! 2 Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." Selah[1]
Understand:
*His son has betrayed him.
*The people of Jerusalem have rejected him.
*Shimei the Benjamite scoffs at David: he proclaims that David is under God’s judgment for injustice done to King Saul (2Sam 16:7-8).
*This revolt was so unexpected – that the Bible tells us David had to flee barefoot as he wept (2 Samuel 15 & 16).
A) As David fled under so much unexpected opposition and accusation, he must have wondered –
has God really turned His back on me?
·This event did occur after David’s open sin with Bathsheba and murder of her husband.
·Was Saul’s blood actually on David’s hands as well as Shimei the Benjamite caimed.
·What of the others David had killed – were some of them innocents?
Many have labeled the first two verses of this Psalm as “David’s complaint to God” – We definitely see that aspect here – but I think more than that David is self-searching.
-He is holding the opinion of his oppressors up towards heaven.
-He is asking for God’s decision so he can know if the
accusations against him are true or false.
Charles Spurgeon writes,
“It is the most bitter of all afflictions to be led to fear that there is no help for us in God. “
V. God’s answer revealed:
“3 But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift[2] up my head. 4 To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah”
A lot has happened between verse 2 and 3. Selah of verse 2 seems to mark a transition from a downcast soul to a renewed confidence in God.
What brought this transition?
James Boice writes, “The first stanza is an expression of the crisis that has come into the psalmist’s life because of the enemies who have risen up against him. The second is a quiet expression of his confidence in God. What has produced this abrupt but obvious change? … He has turned his attention from his enemies to God.”
Earlier David lifted up the opinion of his oppressors to God… out of his fear and depression he was asking,
“am I truly guilty God – Have you really forsaken me?”
If we look ahead to verse 5 we will see what may have turned David’s attention back to God and shown him that God held a different opinion than his persecutors.
“5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. “
Obviously, at least one night has passed and a new morning has come.
-As the morning rays hit David’s face and awake him he realizes that God has not forsaken him – for he is alive to face another day!
*God has sustained David through the horrors of that unexpected night –God has not betrayed him – but rescued and protected him!
*Now that David knows God is with him his faith swells – his courage soars – all because his trust is now firmly rooted once again in God
<
Perhaps one of the most well loved hymns of our day could summarize David’s revived positive emotion.
“Because He lives I know I can face tomarrow! Because He lives all fear is gone! I know, yes I know life is worth the living just because He lives!”
VI. Peace from God.
Perhaps, the greatest gift David received from God in those hours of trial was the peace God bestowed on him.
“5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. 6 I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.”
Now that David is reassured of his security under the providence of God – he feels the sweet peace of God sweep over his life.
·In the deepest torment of life – we too can experience the sweet presence which bring peace and a good nights sleep.
·David’s is reassured that his life is can be spared or taken only at God’s decision, so now he can sleep in peace and spend his waking hours without fear!
VII. Aggressive Prayer:
Now that David has been restored to emotional fortitude he is ready for action.
He cries to God,
“7 Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. 8 From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people, Selah.”
Matthew Henry writes, “(David) began the psalm with complaints of the strength and malice of his enemies; but concludes with rejoicing in the power and grace of his God.”
VIII. David’s final word’s in Psalm 3:
A) Some feel that David’s choice of words. “Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. (v.s.7)” is a metaphor.
“ this metaphor of "cheek bones", and "teeth", is to represent cutting words, detractions, calumnies, and other injuries of the same kind, by which the innocent are oppressed”
*The most hurtful part of David’s opposition may well have been the cutting words – of those who professed to hear from God but actually made false accusations against him.
<
“Sicks and stones can break my bones and false words can hurt me…”
B)“8 From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people”
·Older translations read (Salvation – but deliverance is the same.)
Spurgen writes,
“ The sense is, it is the Lord alone that saves and blesses: and even though the whole mass of all evils should be gathered together in one against a man, still, it is the Lord who saves: salvation and blessing are in his hands.”
Closing:
We can find peace in trials In the same way David received renewed strength, hope and emotional fortitude-- by placing his hope in God.
Psalm 3
Introduction:
I. Structure of Psalm 3:
i. Psalm 3 firsts
ii. Understanding the setting of Psalm 3:
II. Self Searching?/ Complaint to God (v.s 1-2):
III. God’s answer revealed (v.s. 3-4) :
IV. Peace from God: (5-6):
V. Aggressive Prayer(7-8):
VI. David’s final word’s in Psalm 3 (7-8):
