Psalm 3

You Are My Shield The Believer’s Crisis (vv. 1–2) The Believer’s Confidence (vv. 3–4) The Believer’s Conviction (vv. 5–8)

The Believer’s Crisis (vv. 1–2) You Are My Shield The Believer’s Crisis (vv. 1–2) O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; 2 many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah

2 Samuel 15:7-8 And at the end of four years Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed to the Lord, in Hebron. 8 For your servant vowed a vow while I lived at Geshur in Aram, saying, ‘If the Lord will indeed bring me back to Jerusalem, then I will offer worship to the Lord.’ ”

2 Samuel 15:12 And while Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, from his city Giloh. And the conspiracy grew strong, and the people with Absalom kept increasing.

2 Samuel 14:25 Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.

2 Samuel 15:13 And a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel have gone after Absalom.”

2 Samuel 16:8 The Lord has avenged on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood.”

2 Samuel 17:1 Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight.

Spurgeon It is the most bitter of all afflictions to be led to fear that there is no help for us in God.

The Believer’s Confidence (vv. 3–4) You Are My Shield The Believer’s Confidence (vv. 3–4) 3 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. 4 I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

Boice When a believer gazes too long at his enemies, the force arrayed against him seems to grow in size until it appears to be overwhelming. But when he turns his thoughts to God, God is seen in his true, great stature, and the enemies shrink to manageable proportions.

Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”

2 Samuel 15:30 But David went up the ascent of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered. And all the people who were with him covered their heads, and they went up, weeping as they went.

Spurgeon Surely, silent prayers are heard. Yes, but good men often find that, even in secret, they pray better aloud than they do when they utter no vocal sound.

Henry Care and grief do us good, when they engage us to pray to God.

2 Samuel 15:24-26 And Abiathar came up, and behold, Zadok came also with all the Levites, bearing the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God until the people had all passed out of the city. 25 Then the king said to Zadok, “Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me back and let me see both it and his dwelling place. 26 But if he says, ‘I have no pleasure in you,’ behold, here I am, let him do to me what seems good to him.”

Spurgeon We need not fear a frowning world while we rejoice in a prayer-hearing God.

The Believer’s Conviction (vv. 5–8) You Are My Shield The Believer’s Conviction (vv. 5–8) 5 I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. 6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. 7 Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. 8 Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! Selah

Lawson It is a hymn of individual lament, written to paint a clear picture of what triumphant faith looks like when it is tested by the fires of adversity.

Boice Salvation is of the Lord. But if that is true—if God has saved you in this great matter of salvation—why should you tremble before the lesser, physical dangers of this life, however imposing and frightful they may seem?