Psalm 3: A Psalm of Confidence and Trust
“But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of minehead.” Psalm 3:3
Psalms 1 and 2 serve as an introduction to the whole book of Psalms. Both Psalms give an idealized portrayal: Psalm 1 is a portrayal of the ideal godly person who lives by God’s instruction. Psalm 2 portrays the Messiah, the ideal king of Israel. The rest of the Psalms develop and deepen these portrayals, while at the same time expressing how neither the people of God nor their earthly kings were able to fulfill God’s ideals and bring about the happiness and peace of God’s kingdom. The Psalms therefore testify to Jesus as the ideal godly man and king of Israel; the Messiah who alone has pleased God and by whom alone redemption, joy, and peace are secure.
So Psalm 3 moves the reader from the orderly world of Psalms 1 and 2, to a disoriented world. Life experience teaches us that situations are not always ideal. David wrote this Psalm while on the run from his son Absalom who stole the hearts of the men of Israel and tried to take his father’s throne. David is in distress. Yet the phrase, “But thou, O LORD…” changes the mood of the Psalm from dejection to confidence. David affirms that the Lord is his protective cover when no one would help him, his glory when his earthly resources are depleted, and his encouragement when no one could lift him up.
Further, in verse 5, I love that David was able to sleep in the midst of his trial of faith. Many suffer sleepless nights through pain of body, or anguish of mind, or the continual alarms of fear in the night. But the Lord gave David a calmness of spirit in the midst of his dangers. And if God did it for David, He is no respecter of persons, He will do it for us. Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” What joy to know that even in a bed of sorrows, we can commend our spirit into the Father's hands in full confidence of a joyful resurrection. “Pile your troubles on God's shoulders – he'll carry your load, he'll help you out” (Psalm 55:22 MSG).
David's faith became triumphant. He began the Psalm with complaints of the strength and malice of his enemies; but concludes with rejoicing in the power and grace of his God. “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is” (Jeremiah 17:7).
“But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of minehead.” Psalm 3:3
Psalms 1 and 2 serve as an introduction to the whole book of Psalms. Both Psalms give an idealized portrayal: Psalm 1 is a portrayal of the ideal godly person who lives by God’s instruction. Psalm 2 portrays the Messiah, the ideal king of Israel. The rest of the Psalms develop and deepen these portrayals, while at the same time expressing how neither the people of God nor their earthly kings were able to fulfill God’s ideals and bring about the happiness and peace of God’s kingdom. The Psalms therefore testify to Jesus as the ideal godly man and king of Israel; the Messiah who alone has pleased God and by whom alone redemption, joy, and peace are secure.
So Psalm 3 moves the reader from the orderly world of Psalms 1 and 2, to a disoriented world. Life experience teaches us that situations are not always ideal. David wrote this Psalm while on the run from his son Absalom who stole the hearts of the men of Israel and tried to take his father’s throne. David is in distress. Yet the phrase, “But thou, O LORD…” changes the mood of the Psalm from dejection to confidence. David affirms that the Lord is his protective cover when no one would help him, his glory when his earthly resources are depleted, and his encouragement when no one could lift him up.
Further, in verse 5, I love that David was able to sleep in the midst of his trial of faith. Many suffer sleepless nights through pain of body, or anguish of mind, or the continual alarms of fear in the night. But the Lord gave David a calmness of spirit in the midst of his dangers. And if God did it for David, He is no respecter of persons, He will do it for us. Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” What joy to know that even in a bed of sorrows, we can commend our spirit into the Father's hands in full confidence of a joyful resurrection. “Pile your troubles on God's shoulders – he'll carry your load, he'll help you out” (Psalm 55:22 MSG).
David's faith became triumphant. He began the Psalm with complaints of the strength and malice of his enemies; but concludes with rejoicing in the power and grace of his God. “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is” (Jeremiah 17:7).
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