Psalm 3 - The Dark Hour Of Sunrise Series

Psalms 3:1-8 KJV 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.

I. INTRODUCTION—THE BACKGROUND OF THE THIRD PSALM

-There are some things that we see in this psalm that have not been present in the previous two. The real crux of the psalms are about to get started with this third psalm. What we also begin here is the first of a collection of psalms written by David. They actually cover Psalms 3-41.

• It is the first psalm that has a historical title—A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom.

• It is the first psalm that is actually entitled “a psalm.”

• It is the first psalm that is considered a psalm of lament. A psalm of lament is one that is charged with emotional pain and a plea for divine deliverance from trouble. We often look to the psalms as a place of singing and worship but there is something about lament, pain, disappointment that adds a depth to our worship that we otherwise would not grasp.

• It is the first psalm that is identified with morning worship which we gather from 3:6.

• It follows a pattern from Psalm 1-2 in that both of them are related to each other. Psalm 3 is a psalm of morning worship and Psalm 4 is one for evening worship. Our days should begin and end with worship to the Lord!

• It is the first psalm that introduces us to the word, ‘Selah’ (vv. 2, 4, 8). This word is most likely a signal for a pause so that the musical instruments can be changed or that a new voice is to take up the song.

-The word “psalm” comes from the Hebrew mizmor which has to do with the cutting and pruning of unfruitful branches.

-One of the powerful things about the Word of the Lord is the ability to cross-reference it and pin-point historical occurrences with the words we read. This psalm is exactly in that category. The title tells us that this is a time when David was fleeing from Absalom.

-The parallels from this psalm to the history in 2 Samuel fits in this manner:

• 3:2—David’s enemies say he is to be forsaken by God—2 Sam. 16:7-8

• 3:3—David’s head, covered on Mt. Olives, will be raised by God—2 Sam. 15:30

• 3:5—David’s danger and confidence in the night—2 Sam. 17:1, 16

• 3:6—David’s situation of being greatly outnumbered—2 Sam. 15:13; 17:11

• 3:8—David’s victory is always secured in the Lord—2 Sam. 19:1-2

-We see that this psalm was written as a morning psalm but in the beginning of it, it appears that David is facing the dark hour of sunrise with a host of trouble trying to erase him from the throne and ultimately from the world.

II. PSALM 3

-This psalm was written by David after running from Absalom. It was most likely written on the first night when he was fleeing from his own son. What a terrible thing to have been confronted with. While David had been running the affairs of the nation, his son had been working the people and drawing their allegiance away from his father. The whole matter is laid out in 2 Samuel 15-18.

-That is the way that life often works. It just keeps on coming at you! You are working diligently to fulfill your obligations and responsibilities and in the background someone is working against you. David appears to not have even had a hint of suspicion that this was taking place.

-Before we get to the end of this psalm we will be able to see that the Lord is the Lord over life and has ever path worked out before we ever get to it. Adversity, disappointment, setbacks, rebellions, obstacles, and a host of other matters will be a portion of every life but we can take confidence in the Lord.