Psalm 3

The Lord Helps His Troubled People

A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son.

(NKJV) 1 LORD, how they have increased who trouble me!
Many are they who rise up against me.
2 Many are they who say of me,
“There is no help for him in God.”
Selah
3 But You, O LORD, are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
4 I cried to the LORD with my voice,
And He heard me from His holy hill.
Selah
5 I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.
6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me all around.
7 Arise, O LORD;
Save me, O my God!
For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone;
You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8 Salvation belongs to the LORD.
Your blessing is upon Your people.
Selah

David starts this Psalm with fleeing from Absalom his son. It is not a calm and peaceful prayer but one set while the chaos is still high and distress is real but it doesn’t stay there.

One of the great treasures of studying Psalms is that it carries you through the distresses and takes you to a place of peace enough to rest and get some sleep. There are times when things are powerful and hard to carry but waiting upon the Lord and knowing He will sustain you will give you the peace to take your rest and start anew the next day.

🌙 Psalm 3 Movement

1. The Crisis
   “Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!”
   David sees the danger honestly. Scripture never pretends pain is imaginary.
2. The Confidence
   “But You, O Lord, are a shield for me…”
   The turning point is the word but. The enemies are real, but God is nearer.
3. The Rest
   “I lay down and slept…”
   One of the most astonishing lines in the Psalm. David is hunted, betrayed, uncertain of tomorrow… yet he sleeps. Not because circumstances improved overnight, but because trust entered the room.
4. The Deliverance
   “Salvation belongs to the Lord.”
   David ends where every believer eventually must: God is the source of rescue, not human strength.

A beautiful companion thought for reflection:

Fear counts enemies.
Faith counts the Lord.