Psalms 3:1-6

Save Me, O My God

1 O LORD, ¹how many are my foes! Many are ²rising against me;

2 many are saying of my soul, ³there is no salvation for him in God. Selah^[a]

3 But you, O LORD, are ⁴a shield ⁵about me, my glory, and ⁶the lifter of my head.

4 I ⁷cried aloud to the LORD, and he ⁸answered me from his ⁹holy hill. Selah

5 I ¹⁰lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.

6 I ¹¹will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have ¹²set themselves against me all around.

Psalms 3:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 3

\\<>\\. This is the first of the psalms that has a title, and is called a Psalm; the word for which, "mizmor", comes from one which signifies to "cut" or "prune" {r}, as trees are lopped of their superfluous branches; showing this to be a composition of even feet, in proper metre, formed for the modulation of the voice, to some tune or musical instrument; and it is said to be "a psalm of David", which may be rendered "a psalm for" or "to David" {s}, as if it was wrote by another for his use, and inscribed to him; or rather that it was given to him by the Holy Spirit, who was the author of it, though he was the penman. It is observed by some, that wherever the dative case is used in the title of the psalm, as it most frequently is, as such a psalm to David, or to Asaph, it may signify that it came from the Lord to him, or was divinely inspired; just as it is said, the word of the Lord came to the prophets; though some render it "a psalm concerning David" {t}, his troubles, his faith and security in God, his victory over his enemies, and salvation from the Lord. However, David was the composer of this psalm, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, occasioned by his flight from Absalom; who, having stolen away the hearts of the people of Israel, entered into a conspiracy with them to dethrone his father and place himself in his stead; and the people so increased continually with him, that David thought it advisable to flee from Jerusalem, 2Sa 15:12-14; and at the time of his flight, or after it, he penned this psalm on account of it, and as suitable to it. And now was fulfilled what God had said, by Nathan the prophet, should befall him, because of the affair of Bathsheba and Uriah; see 2Sa 12:11, 16:21,22. David was an eminent type of Christ, and so he was in his troubles, and in these; as one of his sons conspired against him to dethrone him, and take away his life; so Judas, one of Christ's disciples or children, for disciples were called children, his familiar friend, that did eat of his bread, lifted up his heel against him, and sought to betray him, and did; and who, though he knew the designs of Judas against him, and did not flee from him, but rather went to meet him, yet it is easy to observe that he took the same route from Jerusalem as David did. At this time he went over the brook Kidron, and to the mount of Olives; see Joh 18:1, Mt 27:30; compared with 2Sa 15:23,30; And indeed the whole psalm may be applied to Christ; and so as the second psalm sets forth the dignity of Christ's person, as the Son of God, and the stability and enlargement of his kingdom, notwithstanding the opposition made to him; this expresses his troubles from his enemies, his death and resurrection from the dead, his victory over his enemies, and the salvation he wrought out for his people. In short, it may be understood of David as the type, of Christ as the antitype, and of the people of God, being suited to their experiences, more or less, in all ages; and in this large and extensive way I shall choose to interpret it. {r} rwmzm "a radice" rmz "praescidit", Gejerus. {s} dwdl "psalmus Davidi", "sub. datus", Genebrardus. {t} "De Davide, vel in Davidem"; so some in Mariana.

Cross References

• 1. 2 Samuel 15:12
• 2. 2 Samuel 18:31, 32
• 3. Psalms 71:11; [2 Samuel 16:8]
• 4. Psalms 28:7; Psalms 84:9; Psalms 119:114; Genesis 15:1
• 5. Job 1:10
• 6. Psalms 27:5, 6; [Job 10:15]
• 7. Psalms 77:1; Psalms 142:1
• 8. Psalms 34:4; Psalms 60:5; Psalms 108:6; [Psalms 6:8; Psalms 34:6]
• 9. See Psalms 2:6
• 10. Psalms 4:8; [Leviticus 26:6; Job 11:18, 19; Proverbs 3:24]
• 11. [Psalms 23:4; Psalms 27:3]
• 12. Isaiah 22:7; [1 Kings 20:12]

Footnotes

• [a]. The meaning of the Hebrew word Selah, used frequently in the Psalms, is uncertain. It may be a musical or liturgical direction