Introduction – A Psalm of "firsts"

If you were reading through the Psalter, by the time you got to Psalm 3, you would notice that this is a Psalm full of "firsts."

Ø It the first Psalm to have a title – in every Hebrew manuscript, the title is listed a verse 1. Thus, there is strong evidence that the title is also part of the Psalm, therefore, inspired (point out which one is the title in the pew Bible – The Lord Helps His Troubled People).

Ø It is the first Psalm ascribed to David – all but 4 psalms (1-2, 10, 33) in book 1 are ascribed to David in the title (explain the division of the psalms into 5 books equivalent to the 5 books of the law).

Ø It is the first of 13 psalms whose titles relate an episode in David's live – 3,7, 18, 34, 51, 52, 54, 56,57, 59, 60, 63, and 142.

Ø It is the first psalm to have the word selah – musical term to mark the importance of what was just said either by a pause or by the instruments rising to a forte.

I. Historical Background

A. The historical situation reflected in the psalm finds David at a low moment in his life.

B. This psalm is not quoted nor alluded to in the NT, but it reflects the experience of every believer at one point or another of his/her life.

C. Comparing this psalm with the previous one:

1. Psalm 2 – the enemies that rise up against the anointed of the Lord are the nations

2. Psalm 3 – the enemies that rise up against the anointed are the people of Israel, including his own family.

II. Four Stanzas

A. 1^stStanza: lament over the enemies, 1-2

1. The rebellion that began with a single man, Absalom, now has thousands joining it, 1.

2 Samuel 15:6 – In this manner Absalom acted toward all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

2 Samuel 15:13 – Now a messenger came to David, saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom."

2. His enemies were so numerous that he had to leave his beloved city and flee to the wilderness.

2 Samuel 15:14, 23b – So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise, and let us flee; or we shall not escape from Absalom. Make haste to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly and bring disaster upon us, and strike the city with the edge of the sword…." The king himself also crossed over the Brook Kidron, and all the people crossed over toward the way of the wilderness.

3. His enemies, which were his own people, were mocking him by saying that his God is not going to deliver him anymore, that he had forsaken David, 2 – we feel this way sometimes.

4. Applications from the first stanza

a. First, what is going on here is clearly the result of sin.

1) David chose to commit adultery and murder.

2) From then on, his temporal life was in disarray.

a) He lost 4 sons (the baby, Absalom, Amnon, and Adonijah).

b) Two of his sons attempted to usurp his throne (Absalom and Adonijah).

c) One of his sons committed incest with his sister (Amnon)

d) And here, his own people are now his enemies.

"During the era of international peace of David's kingdom, the enemies had arisen from within Israel. They joined together with great ferocity and animosity toward their king." Willem VanGemeren

3) Sin is ugly and has very real consequences.

4) Even after repenting from it, there might be consequences that we will have to live with.

a) Lack of trust in relationships

b) Loss of testimony

c) Loss of usefulness for the gospel sake

d) Disease

e) Remaining guilt feelings

5) So, it is much better not to sin.

b. Second, despite all the struggles of his life, David addresses God by his name.

1) This shows a deep spiritual intimacy.

2) This shows that David knows that his God is a covenant keeping God who will not forsake him nor leave him.

3) This is the OT equivalent of the NT "ABBA Father."

4) And we miss this connection because our translations use the word LORD for the name of God.

5) But David knows his God and calls him by name.

6) Of 150 psalms, 134 address God as Yahweh – the covenant-keeping God.

7) We need to know our God as well as the psalmists did.

Gal. 4:4-7 – But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

1 Jn. 3:1-3 – Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

B. 2^ndStanza: prayer to the Lord, 3-4

1. In time of trouble (and in time of easy) David prayed.

2. He prays because he knows who his God is, 3

a. Yahweh is a shield for him

1) This is not a tiny shield.

2) It is more like a force field all around him.

Psalm 5:12 – For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield.

3) God is a shield in the sense that there is nothing that his enemies can do to him that will have any eternal consequences.

4) And David looks at that as enough to rejoice in.

Psalm 28:7 – The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.

b. Yahweh is his glory

1) He is what David glories in.

2) There is nothing else that is necessary.

a) Not a kingdom

b) Not a people

c) Not his family

d) God is his glory

c. Yahweh lifts his head

1) Expression means taking the hand to the chin and raising somebody's head.

2) Not only a symbol of being brought up from depression, but also of causing one to look at the one who lifts the head – this is David's condition.

2 Samuel 15:30 – So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up.

3. Notice that he cried out in the past, 4.

a. God answered his prayer by the time the events of psalm 3 were taking place.

b. So, he was not praying for deliverance or for safety.

c. He was praying for grace to trust in God in this time of trouble much like the disciples did in Acts 4.

Acts 4:24-30 (31) – So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You areGod, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: 'Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand,and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.' "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." [answer] And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

d. And God heard his prayer! 5-6.

4. Applications from the second stanza.

a. First, in these verses we see David as a type of Christ.

1) Christ was the "other" David who climbed the Mt. of Olives with his head down and was lifted up at the resurrection.

2) He was the one ultimately vindicated by the Father above all his enemies.

b. Second, Yahweh will always hear the prayer of all his children who sincerely want to increase their faith in him.

Matthew 7:11 – If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

c. We must pray

1) It can be a whisper.

2) It can be a cry

3) It can be silent

Rom. 8:26 – Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

4) It can be very loud

5) But we must pray.

6) It is so sad to see the people who are called by God's name not willing to pray.

"Too often plans come before prayers. How many blessings we may miss by conceiving our own schemes only to see God frustrate them later and work out his own plan." Willem VanGemeren

C. 3^rdStanza: trust in the Lord, 5-6

1. David's commitment to God results in an abandonment of his problem to God, 5.

a. He handed his problem over to his covenant-keeping God and now he can move on.

b. This is the first application from this third stanza: we do not need to be anxious when we serve Yahweh

1) This can be seen in the simple act of being able to sleep at night when we lay our heads on the pillow.

2) Being able to just leave everything in God's hands and know that he doesn't sleep nor slumber.

3) Being able to rest in him.

4) This is all the result of praying

Philippians 4:6-7 – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

2. David trusted in his God and he proved to be who he said he was, 6.

a. "I went to sleep and woke up in the morning! My enemies didn't over take or destroy me!"

b. We can prove God in that way as well.

Romans 12:2 – And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Psalm 34:8 – Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him

D. 4^thStanza: deliverance is from Yahweh, 7-8

1. David knows that the only one who can do anything for him is Yahweh, 7.

a. David can ask for God to save him because he has saved him in the past, 7b

1) Goliath

2) Saul

3) The nations around him

b. As he has done in the past, David knows God can do now.

c. We too know how God has delivered us time and time again.

d. So, we must turn to him to deliver us again and again from the perils of this life.

2. David knows that any hope of deliverance, and power to save belongs solely to Yahweh, 8a.

a. This is true for any type of deliverance, physical or spiritual, for there is no other name under heaven whereby men must be saved.

b. We too must turn to him with that faith, with that belief.

3. David also asks God to bless his people, 8b.

a. These are his enemies from verse 2 who are mocking him and his God.

b. This is much like the "other" David who, while hanging on the cross, said, "forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.

"Instead of cursing his faithless people he implores a blessing upon those who have been piteously led astray and deceived." Keil & Delitzsch

Conclusion

David closes this psalm with a Selah, about which Spurgeon says:

Divine, discriminating, eternal, infinite, immutable love, is a subject for constant adoration. Pause, my soul, at this Selah, and consider thine own interest in the salvation of God; and if by humble faith thou art enabled to see Jesus as thine by his own free gift of himself to thee, if this greatest of all blessings be upon thee, rise up and sing – 'Rise, my soul! adore and wonder! Ask, O why such love to me? Grace hath put me in the number of the Saviour's family: Hallelujah! Thanks, eternal thanks, to thee!

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