Psalm 3
Psalm 3 moves from the threat of many enemies to confidence that salvation belongs to YHWH.
David is fleeing from his son Absalom, according to the psalm’s heading. He speaks to YHWH as his enemies increase and people claim that God will no longer help him. David answers their claim by naming God as his shield and recalling how God sustained him through sleep. With enemies still surrounding him, he asks God to rise and save him. The prayer ends with a plea for blessing on God’s people.
The heading connects Psalm 3 to the account in 2 Samuel of David fleeing Absalom’s rebellion, where support for Absalom grows. Genesis shares the image of God as a shield, while Revelation shares the confession that salvation belongs to God.
After reading the whole chapter
What stands out about David sleeping and waking while his enemies still surround him?
Write on thisHow does David’s closing prayer for God’s people shape your reading of his plea for rescue?
Write on thisQuestions people ask about Psalm 3
Who wrote Psalm 3, and what was happening?
The heading identifies Psalm 3 as a psalm by David when he fled from his son Absalom. That rebellion is recounted in 2 Samuel. The prayer describes growing opposition and claims that God will not help David, though it does not identify the exact moment when he composed it.
What does Selah mean in Psalm 3?
Selah appears after verses 2, 4, and 8. Its exact meaning is uncertain. It is often understood as a musical or liturgical direction, perhaps marking a pause or change in performance. Here it marks breaks after the enemies’ claim, David’s account of answered prayer, and the closing blessing.
Why does Psalm 3 speak of breaking the teeth of the wicked?
Verse 7 uses violent imagery of enemies struck in the face and deprived of their ability to harm. David appeals to God for rescue and judgment. The wording describes God’s blows as accomplished, which can recall past deliverance or express confidence in victory; the psalm leaves that timing unstated.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).