1 Lord, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.”
3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
4 I call out to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
5 I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.
7 Arise, Lord!
Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.
8 From the Lord comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.
David wrote this psalm when he was running away from his son, Absalom, who was trying to kill him in order to become king.
Question 1
How would you describe the ‘mood’ of this psalm? How do you think David is feeling?
Question 2
Have you ever thought “how many are my foes?” v1? Have you ever thought that you have so many enemies?
The Bible isn’t a boring book. We don’t just read it together for the sake of it. Look at the title of Psalm 3. David had to run away from his own son Absalom or he was going to be killed! You can read the back story about Absalom in 2 Samuel 15.
Remember, we’re reading the songs and prayers of a greater king than David here. These were also prayers and songs that Jesus prayed and sang. Jesus was betrayed by a close friend, arrested and handed over to be crucified. This psalm helps us understand how he was able to keep going in such hard times. Jesus really is a friend who understands us and sympathises with us. That should encourage you to pray for help from him. And like Jesus you really can trust your heavenly Father with everything. Jesus has proved that in the most extreme way. He was able to lie down in death trusting that he would wake again because the LORD sustains him.
Question 3
What can we learn from this psalm that can help us when we’re afraid or unable to sleep?
Question 4
What’s one practical lesson you can take from psalm 3?
Pray: Father, thank you that when we feel like everyone is against, you are our shield and you protect us.
