Psalms Three Commentary

I. Introduction

Jehovah God through the pen of His hard-pressed servant David speaks a word about Resurrection and Salvation in this blessed psalm. But we may as well say that Resurrection is the overarching theme of this psalm, for in the grand, big picture of Scripture, which concerns Jehovah God and His manifest, eternal Relationship with humankind, which is Salvation, which is life eternal in the presence of Jehovah God, which turns on Jesus Christ, Resurrection, is the much-anticipated starting point. Of course, Resurrection, that vital aspect of the grand program of God, has already begun. It began centuries ago with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, He, First Fruits in that program, with many a beloved to follow in due time.

We will follow this format:

Verse of Scripture utilizing the YLT text followed by an NASB mouse over of that verse. Key words in the YLT text will be footnoted with a link to a word study based on the Hebrew text, and/or a general discussion relative to the given word (we are not biblical Greek or Hebrew scholars, please consider our grammatical constructions with a critical eye).

Commentary We shall be commenting on this passage keeping before us at all times the crucial fact that every jot and every tittle comprising these verses came forth under the inspiration of the blessed Holy Spirit. We pray that He, by His grace, helps us along the way.

II. Psalms Three Commentary Verses

3:1-3- Thou Jehovah Art a Shield for Me, My Honor, and Lifter Up of My Head

YLT TEXT: A Psalm of David[1], in his fleeing[2] from the face of Absalom[3] his son[4]. Jehovah[5], how have my distresses[6] multiplied! Many are rising up against me. Many are saying of my soul[7], ‘There is no salvation[8] for him in God[9].’ Selah[10]. And Thou, O Jehovah, art a shield for me, My honour, and lifter up of my head. (Psalms 3:1-3, Psalms 3:1-3, NLT)

COMMENTARY: What better way is there to face up to trial than to write a psalm to Jehovah God whilst in the midst of it: “…A Psalm of David, in his fleeing from the face of Absalom his son…”. This is tantamount to prayer; putting prayerful meditations down on paper whilst in the pressure cooker.

It is good to write spiritual things down, especially prayerful things, because it always makes a good personal record to guide other prayers, and it brings about good spiritual focus, because prayers are oftentimes more deliberate, and certainly slower, when writing. This gives the blessed Spirit of God more opportunity (owing to the human side) to bring clarity in the circumstances attending the prayer, be they distresses, or praising God, or fellowshipping and thanking God, or petitions and whatnot. So, David is here writing (for the biblical record, unbeknownst to him), he is of course praying, and all the while he is fleeing. Two practical moves the former two, attending a third, no less practical move, given his circumstances (the circumstances-2Samuel 15:1ff, also).

It is to the Eternal One, Jehovah, that David writes this psalm. And it is so lovely how David talks to Jehovah as he writes, as talking to a dear Friend: “…Jehovah…” David begins. This is so excellent. And no doubt this personable psalm and many others that David wrote survived in the biblical record not least because this personable manner of address and conversation is acceptable and pleasing to Jehovah God. If we may: ‘ …My mind and my heart are weary Jehovah God. They have beset me all about and seek to lay me waste. See and have mercy, see how I flee before them, even before Absalom my son, my son. I flee, but there are so many arisen against me, fleeing finds but another enemy lusting to betray me. Help me dearest Jehovah, as before, lest I sink deep in this quagmire, never again to rise and sing your praises in the land of the living—O fast stir yourself and rescue your fading servant…’. Thus David laments to Jehovah his God: “…How many have my distresses multiplied! Many are rising up against me…”.

But O the bile here directed toward David, even at his soul: “….Many are saying of my soul, ‘There is no salvation for him in God.’…”. What exactly do David’s enemies mean by this satanic, super-confident claim? These insults are prophetic in nature and look ahead to the perception of Jesus by His (human) enemies. Jesus’ enemies were sure that He was not of God, indeed, not the Son of God as He Jesus claimed. And these insults toward David as those toward Jesus in His day emphasize and magnify the presumed and satanically aggravated disconnect between David and his Father God and between Jesus the Son of God and His Father God (note Psalms 22:7-8, 42:10, 71:10-13, cf. Mat 27:40-43). But there is no way that one who had tasted so often the salvation of his Father God would do anything but trust that blessed Father for his salvation in the Father’s good time: “…And Thou, O Jehovah, art a shield for me, My honour, and lifter up of my head…” (red font added). Here is a Spirit-guided, super-confident response, grounded in David’s salvific experiences and uttered under inspiration (Jehovah God is never mocked, not even a little bit). It is of course the resurrection of Jesus Christ that David sees here besides his own Salvation. Though Jesus bowed His blessed head upon triumphing in His salvific work (John 19:30), His resurrection was the lifting up of that blessed head, and is the hope of myriads, hoping to follow in kind—lifted up, up, up—including David and you and I dearest beloved of God reader (“A Letter of Invitation”).

3:4-6- Jehovah Answereth Me from His Holy Hill, Jehovah Sustaineth Me

My voice[11] is unto Jehovah: I call: And He answereth me from his holy hill[12], Selah. I — I have lain down, and I sleep, I have waked, for Jehovah sustaineth[13] me. I am not afraid of myriads of people, That round about they have set against me. (Psalms 3:4-6, Psalms 3:4-6, NLT)

COMMENTARY: The O so good resurrection theme continues. It is the newness of Life, eternal life in God’s presence: Salvation, all alike sustained by Jehovah God, that is here proclaimed per a call. A call, calling, called. Jehovah God calls (Isa 55:1, John 6:44, 12:32, “Isaiah Chapter Fifty-Five Commentary”, “A Letter of Invitation”). Humankind calls, best, on God (Psalms 3:4, 34:6), like David here. Yes, a Salvation call unto Jehovah David made in his day: “…My voice is unto Jehovah: I call…”, and he was certainly answered in a big way, near-term (Absalom), and far-term (Salvation, even Messiah in his line): “…And He answereth me from his holy hill, Selah…”. There is as much and more to it than that in our day going forward, because when we call upon Jehovah today—let it be a blessed answer to a blessed calling—He straightaway answers us in David’s Messiah, in our Messiah (John 6:37, 14:13). And though we shall all, sooner or later, near-term, or a little further-term, lay down and sleep as it were, His Called, His Callers, His own, shall wake, shall rise (1Corinthians 15:51-57), for all throughout precisely Jehovah sustains His own, making all this O so good resurrection theme what it in fact is–Possible: “…My voice is unto Jehovah: I call: And He answereth me from his holy hill, Selah. I – have lain down, and I sleep, I have waked, for Jehovah sustaineth me…” (Psalms 16:10-Messiah, 1Corinthians 15:20-23-Callers, upon Him, Messiah). A call, calling, called.

3:7-8- On Thy People is Thy Blessing Great Jehovah God!

YLT TEXT: Rise[14], O Jehovah! save me, my God[15]. Because Thou hast smitten All mine enemies on the cheek. The teeth of the wicked[16] Thou hast broken. Of Jehovah is this salvation; On Thy people is Thy blessing[17]! Selah. (Psalms 3:7-8, Psalms 3:7-8, NLT)

COMMENTARY: This is a terrific declarative praise segment. David looks back and recalls Jehovah’s many helps and straightaway begins to steel himself in those sweet memories and like letting the air out of the tension and fear those memories make manageable multiplied distresses just before bitterly bewailed: “…how have my distresses multiplied…” becomes: “…Rise, O Jehovah! Save me, my God [please notice carefully now come the salvific memories flooding into his head and heart] Because Thou hast smitten All mine enemies on the cheek [‘…I remember it well Thou Great Champion mine…’]. The teeth of the wicked Thou hast broken…”. By now the Spirit of God has so steeled David that he cannot stop praising God and victory is a foregone conclusion—with his Savior by his side he is ready to engage the battle and take care of the Messianic business that depended on his victory as he remembers that Savior by his side so often before: “…Of Jehovah is this salvation…”. Of Jehovah is this Yeshua! Is this not terrific to see happening real-time like that in this man’s life? It bodes ever so well for us Yeshua’s people, David’s brethren: “…On Thy people is Thy blessing! Selah…”. David, a man of God, knew firsthand that God’s blessing is on His people, because it was on David. Another great memory that he extrapolates out to you and me dearest Christian friend, in praising-honor of God his Savior whom he loves and in love for the blessed ones, his brethren, of whom he delights to be a part. See how this man of God David thinks? Thank you great savior God, for again and again blessing David, for in those blessings indeed came multiplied blessings to your people.

        Praised be your Name great savior God, Yeshua. Amen.

III. Illustrations and