Psalms 3 Study Notes: Confidence Amid a Son's Revolt
Set during Absalom's revolt against his father David, this psalm answers the many foes who say God will not help him. David confesses the Lord as his protector, sleeps and wakes in safety, asks God to rise and save him, and declares that deliverance comes from the Lord.
General
According to the heading of Psalm 3, what situation was David in when he wrote it?
Answer: Fleeing from his own son Absalom
The heading ties the psalm to one of the darkest episodes of David's life, when Absalom led a revolt and David had to abandon Jerusalem (3:1). Second Samuel records the report that the hearts of Israel had turned to Absalom and David's order to flee the city at once (2 Samuel 15:13-14). It then describes the king climbing Olivet barefoot, head covered, in tears (2 Samuel 15:30). Out of that crisis, betrayed by his own son and with enemies multiplying, David prays with confidence in God.
- Psalm 3:1 (BSB)“A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom. O LORD, how my foes have increased! How many rise up against me!”The heading gives the setting of David's flight from Absalom, and the psalm opens with his cry about his many foes.
- 2 Samuel 15:13-14 (BSB)“Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.” And David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! We must leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and put the city to the sword.””Second Samuel records the report that Israel had turned to Absalom and David's order to leave Jerusalem at once.
- 2 Samuel 15:30 (BSB)“But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.”The narrative shows David leaving the city barefoot and weeping, the grief behind this psalm.
Theological
What historical setting does the superscription of Psalm 3 assign to the psalm?
Answer: Fleeing from his own son Absalom
The superscription places the psalm during Absalom's rebellion, when David fled Jerusalem (3:1). The narrative in 2 Samuel supplies the background: the report that Israel's allegiance had shifted to Absalom and David's hurried departure (2 Samuel 15:13-14), and the king's weeping ascent of Olivet with his head covered (2 Samuel 15:30). The psalm is thus the prayer of a dethroned king surrounded by enemies, which makes its confidence in God all the more striking.
- Psalm 3:1 (BSB)“A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom. O LORD, how my foes have increased! How many rise up against me!”The heading gives the setting of David's flight from Absalom, and the psalm opens with his cry about his many foes.
- 2 Samuel 15:13-14 (BSB)“Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.” And David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! We must leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and put the city to the sword.””Second Samuel records the report that Israel had turned to Absalom and David's order to leave Jerusalem at once.
- 2 Samuel 15:30 (BSB)“But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.”The narrative shows David leaving the city barefoot and weeping, the grief behind this psalm.
General
What conclusion does David reach at the end of Psalm 3 (3:8)?
Answer: Deliverance comes from the LORD alone
After asking God to rise and save him and to break the power of the wicked, pictured as striking their jaws and smashing their teeth (3:7), David sums up his whole confidence: salvation is the LORD's. He then asks God's blessing on His people (3:8), praying for the nation even while he is a fugitive king. Jonah confessed the same truth from inside the fish (Jonah 2:9), and the redeemed crowd in heaven credits their salvation to God and the Lamb (Revelation 7:10). The New Testament shows that rescue from sin is likewise God's gift by grace, not something people achieve (Ephesians 2:8-9).
- Psalm 3:7-8 (BSB)“Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the LORD; may Your blessing be on Your people. Selah”David asks God to rise and save him and closes by declaring that salvation is the LORD's.
- Jonah 2:9 (BSB)“But I, with the voice of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation is from the LORD!””Jonah confesses the same truth from inside the fish: rescue comes from the LORD.
- Revelation 7:10 (BSB)“And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!””The redeemed multitude credits their salvation to God and the Lamb.
- Ephesians 2:8-9 (BSB)“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”Paul teaches that salvation is God's gift by grace, not a human achievement.
Theological
What confession does David make in 3:8 to close the psalm?
Answer: Deliverance comes from the LORD alone
Following the plea for God to arise and shatter the power of the wicked (3:7), David confesses that salvation is the LORD's own and prays for blessing on God's people (3:8). The confession is the theological center of the psalm: deliverance originates in God, not in military strength or human cunning. Jonah's prayer ends with the same confession (Jonah 2:9), the heavenly multitude ascribes salvation to God and the Lamb (Revelation 7:10), and Paul applies the principle to salvation from sin, which is by grace through faith and not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9).
- Psalm 3:7-8 (BSB)“Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the LORD; may Your blessing be on Your people. Selah”David asks God to rise and save him and closes by declaring that salvation is the LORD's.
- Jonah 2:9 (BSB)“But I, with the voice of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation is from the LORD!””Jonah confesses the same truth from inside the fish: rescue comes from the LORD.
- Revelation 7:10 (BSB)“And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!””The redeemed multitude credits their salvation to God and the Lamb.
- Ephesians 2:8-9 (BSB)“For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”Paul teaches that salvation is God's gift by grace, not a human achievement.
General
True or False: In 3:5-6 David says he could not sleep because of the vast number of enemies surrounding him.
Answer: False
This is false. Even with enemies on every side, David lies down, sleeps, and wakes again, and he says the reason is that the LORD holds him up (3:5). Because of that, he refuses to fear even tens of thousands arrayed against him (3:6). Sleep is an act of trust, since a sleeper can do nothing to guard himself. Proverbs describes the sweet, unafraid rest of the one who walks in wisdom (Proverbs 3:24), Psalm 127 says God grants sleep to those He loves (Psalm 127:2), and David ends the next psalm on the same note (Psalm 4:8).
- Psalm 3:5-6 (BSB)“I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me. I will not fear the myriads set against me on every side.”David sleeps and wakes because the LORD sustains him, and he will not fear the multitudes against him.
- Proverbs 3:24 (BSB)“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.”Proverbs promises untroubled rest to the one who walks in God's wisdom.
- Psalm 127:2 (BSB)“In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat—for He gives sleep to His beloved.”Another psalm says God gives sleep to those He loves, making restless toil unnecessary.
- Psalm 4:8 (BSB)“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”David closes the next psalm with the same peaceful rest grounded in God's protection.
Theological
True or False: According to 3:5-6, the multitude of David's enemies kept him from sleeping.
Answer: False
This is false. David lies down, sleeps, and wakes because the LORD sustains him (3:5), and therefore he refuses to be afraid of the myriads deployed around him (3:6). His rest is itself an expression of faith, entrusting his safety wholly to God while he is helpless. The same rest appears in the wisdom tradition (Proverbs 3:24), in the teaching of Psalm 127 that sleep is God's gift to His beloved (Psalm 127:2), and in the close of Psalm 4 (Psalm 4:8).
- Psalm 3:5-6 (BSB)“I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me. I will not fear the myriads set against me on every side.”David sleeps and wakes because the LORD sustains him, and he will not fear the multitudes against him.
- Proverbs 3:24 (BSB)“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you rest, your sleep will be sweet.”Proverbs promises untroubled rest to the one who walks in God's wisdom.
- Psalm 127:2 (BSB)“In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for bread to eat—for He gives sleep to His beloved.”Another psalm says God gives sleep to those He loves, making restless toil unnecessary.
- Psalm 4:8 (BSB)“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”David closes the next psalm with the same peaceful rest grounded in God's protection.
General
Many were saying God would not rescue David (3:2). How does David answer that claim in 3:3?
Answer: He names the LORD as his shield and the lifter of his head
The taunt of David's enemies strikes at his faith: God will not save him (3:2). David answers not with argument but with a confession addressed to God. The LORD is a shield all around him and his glory, the One who raises his bowed head (3:3). To lift someone's head was to restore dignity and hope to a person who was ashamed or grieving, fitting for a king who had just left his city in tears. God called Himself Abram's shield (Genesis 15:1), and in another psalm David calls the LORD his strength and shield (Psalm 28:7).
- Psalm 3:2-3 (BSB)“Many say of me, “God will not deliver him.” Selah But You, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.”David's enemies say God will not save him, and David answers by confessing the LORD as his shield and the one who restores him.
- Genesis 15:1 (BSB)“After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.””God called Himself Abram's shield, the same protective role David confesses.
- Psalm 28:7 (BSB)“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart rejoices, and I give thanks to Him with my song.”David elsewhere calls the LORD his strength and shield, trusting Him for help.
Theological
How does 3:3 answer the enemies' claim in 3:2 that God will not rescue David?
Answer: He names the LORD as his shield and the lifter of his head
The enemies' taunt denies that God will save David (3:2). David's reply, marked by a strong But You, is a confession of who the LORD is to him: a shield surrounding him and his glory, the One who raises his head (3:3). The last phrase speaks of restoring the honor and hope of one bowed down in shame and grief. The shield image recalls God's self-revelation to Abram (Genesis 15:1) and recurs in David's praise in Psalm 28:7.
- Psalm 3:2-3 (BSB)“Many say of me, “God will not deliver him.” Selah But You, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.”David's enemies say God will not save him, and David answers by confessing the LORD as his shield and the one who restores him.
- Genesis 15:1 (BSB)“After these events, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.””God called Himself Abram's shield, the same protective role David confesses.
- Psalm 28:7 (BSB)“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart rejoices, and I give thanks to Him with my song.”David elsewhere calls the LORD his strength and shield, trusting Him for help.