Psalms 3
Big idea: The first prayer in the book is prayed by a father whose son has taken his throne, and the worst thing in it is not the army. It is verse 2: many say of my soul, there is no help for him in God. That is the wound — not danger, but the public verdict that God has written him off. The answer is not an argument. It is a night's sleep. I laid myself down and slept; I awakened, for Yahweh sustains me. A man who can sleep in that situation has already been answered.
Psalm 3 is a morning psalm — he wakes up alive. Psalm 4 is its evening counterpart, and ends by lying back down.
3:1–8 — I laid myself down and slept
The wound in this psalm is not the army. It is verse 2 — the public verdict that God has written him off — and everything after it answers that rather than the danger. The answer is not an argument but a night: he lies down, sleeps, and wakes. A man who can sleep while surrounded has already been told something, and the poem lets the sleep make the case that words would only weaken. The last line then hands the whole thing away from himself to the nation.
1 A Psalm by David, when he fled from Absalom his son. Yahweh, how my adversaries have increased! Many are those who rise up against me. 2 Many there are who say of my soul, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah. 3 But you, Yahweh, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. 4 I cry to Yahweh with my voice, and he answers me out of his holy hill. Selah. 5 I laid myself down and slept. I awakened, for Yahweh sustains me. 6 I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who have set themselves against me on every side. 7 Arise, Yahweh! Save me, my God! For you have struck all of my enemies on the cheek bone. You have broken the teeth of the wicked. 8 Salvation belongs to Yahweh. May your blessing be on your people. Selah.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).