psalm 3
Psalm 3:1-2:
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. |
David's son, Absalom, began a violent revolution. He even contemplated sending a 12,000-man army to kill his father (2 Samuel 17:1–3). Only the interference of David's ally prevented that overwhelming assault from happening (2 Samuel 17:15–16). That was the background for this prayer of David.
David begins by expressing the trouble he faces. His enemies are vast in number, and increasing in their power and influence. Beyond that, it seems David's peers are suggesting he's been abandoned by God. The situation seems bleak. Other people are telling David to give up and accept his doom (Psalm 3:1–2). - Bible Ref |
Psalm 3:3 -6:
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.
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.
Psalm 3:7-8:
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. |
And there are two ways to understand this and I think both are likely true here. The first is that he’s simply saying God has done and does do these sorts of things. That God does strike enemies on the jaw, that he does break the teeth of the wicked. But you could also translate this as David calling for God to do this.
I think this is rather likely. He starts out saying, “arise o Lord, deliver me.” This is what you do. This is how you deliver people. But regardless of how we understand it, he is calling for God to intervene and judge those who have risen up not just against David, but against the Kingdom of God. In much the same way as it is today, to get a strike on the cheek is humiliating. David is calling for God to humiliate his enemies here. He also asks for God to break their teeth. He likens his enemies to wild animals who lose their strength when their teeth are crushed. And you might be thinking, “Well, that sounds harsh. That doesn’t sound loving.” What would Jesus say about that? And it is harsh, but this is actually why we started out talking about who David is. This is not one guy saying, “I have a personal enemy and God, I want you to annihilate him.” That’s not what this is. Because the enemies of David are also the enemies of God. They have arisen against the Lord, against his anointed and against his kingdom and promises. And so David wants the evil that is being done against him and against God to be stopped and punished and that’s actually a good desire. For us to desire evil to be vanquished is a good thing. Now, I’m not going to go so far as to say that David never sinned in his anger at any point. Anger is a dangerous thing, but these words that we have in the scriptures here are given to us under the inspiration of God and they are not sinful. But I am saying that his desire for God to judge and set the situation right is a good desire. -Brian Seagraves |