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Psalm 3: Trusting God in Times of Trouble

Psalm 3 (KJV)

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

  1. 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.
  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.
  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.

1. Setting the Stage: The Crisis Behind the Psalm

Context:
David is fleeing Jerusalem because his son Absalom has led a rebellion against him (2 Samuel 15–18).
This psalm is David’s morning prayer after a night of danger.

Emphasis:

  • Even God’s people experience betrayal, fear, and overwhelming pressure.
  • Psalm 3 shows how to respond when in life you feel outnumbered.

2. Verses 1–2 — The Weight of Opposition

“Lord, how are they increased that trouble me!”
David begins with a cry, not a complaint. He names the reality.

Key Points

  • Many enemies: David feels surrounded.
  • Many voices: They say, “There is no help for him in God.”
  • Spiritual attack: The enemy’s greatest weapon is discouragement.

Application

  • Acknowledge real pressures in life.
  • The enemy often whispers, “God won’t help you.”
  • Faith begins with honesty before God.

3. Verse 3 — The Turning Point: Who God Is

“But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.”

Three Titles David Gives God

TitleMeaningApplication
ShieldProtection on all sidesGod defends us even when we can’t defend ourselves
GloryThe One who restores dignityGod defines your worth, not circumstances
Lifter of my headComfort, encouragement, restorationGod lifts us from shame, fear, and despair

Emphasis

David shifts from focusing on enemies to focusing on God’s character.

4. Verse 4 — Prayer and God’s Answer

“I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill.”

Key Points

  • David cries—this is earnest, heartfelt prayer.
    • James 5:16
      • Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
  • God hears—not from a distant place, but from His holy hill (Zion).
    • 1 Peter 3:12 ESV
      • For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
    • 1 John 5:14 ESV
      • And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
  • David’s confidence is rooted in God’s faithfulness.

Application

  • God hears the prayers of the brokenhearted.
    • 1 Peter 5:7 ESV
      • Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
    • Psalm 34:18 ESV
      • The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
    • Psalm 147:3 ESV
      • He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
    • Isaiah 57:15 ESV
      • For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
    • Matthew 5:4 ESV
      • “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
  • Prayer is not a last resort; it is the believer’s lifeline.

5. Verses 5–6 — Rest in the Midst of Danger

“I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.”

Key Points

  • David sleeps while surrounded by enemies.
  • Sleep is an act of trust.
  • God sustains him through the night.
    • Proverbs 3:24
      • When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

Application

  • Peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of God.
  • God gives rest even in seasons of turmoil.

6. Verse 7 — A Bold Cry for Deliverance

“Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God.”

Key Points

  • David calls on God to act.
  • He remembers past deliverances (“thou hast smitten…”).
  • Past victories fuel present faith.

Application

  • It’s biblical to ask God to intervene powerfully.
  • Remembering God’s past faithfulness strengthens courage today.

7. Verse 8 — The Final Declaration

“Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people.”

Key Points

  • Salvation is God’s work, not ours.
    • Titus 2:11 ESV
      • For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
    • Ephesians 2:8-9
      • For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
      •  Not of works, lest any man should boast.
  • David ends with confidence, not fear.
  • He shifts from personal need to communal blessing.

Application

  • God’s deliverance is bigger than one person—it blesses His people.
  • Faith leads to worship and trust.

Questions to Ask yourself

  • What does David teach us about handling fear?
  • How does focusing on God’s character change our perspective?
  • Why is verse 5 such a powerful picture of trust?
  • How can we pray like David when we feel overwhelmed?

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bible, Bible Study, Psalms, Scriptural Articles, Uncategorized

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