Psalm 3 Overview

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Welcome to the Overview of Psalm 3

This page will introduce and provide orientation to Psalm 3 as a whole. It includes the following sections:


Introduction to Psalm 3

Author

David

Book

Book 1 of the Psalter (Chapters 1–41)

Psalm 3: A Brief Summary

In Psalm 3, David, the anointed king, experiences the worst kind of rebellion and betrayal: his own son seeking to steal the throne. More and more people claim God has abandoned David, and David must ask himself: is it true? Will God no longer save him?
But the threat of tens of thousands ultimately means nothing. Victory belongs to YHWH, not to great armies. He made a covenant with David and he will be faithful to that covenant—so David has no need to fear. God fought for him in the past, and nothing has changed: God will still bring victory. Victory belongs to YHWH, alone.

"Victory is YHWH’s!" This title is a memorable phrase that helps remember the unique character and content of this psalm.

A helpful way to remember this psalm is the phrase “Victory is YHWH’s!” — it’s the truth that answers the lies of all David’s enemies. No matter how many enemies came against David, they could not change the truth that YHWH alone determines who is victorious.

Purpose The Purpose was the psalmist's probable intent or reason for writing this psalm.

To ask YHWH for protection and victory from many enemies.

Content The Content is a concise summary of the whole psalm's content.

YHWH, save me! My enemies are many, but you are a shield for me.

Message The Message is the main idea the psalmist probably wanted the audience to remember upon or after hearing the psalm.

"Victory is YHWH's!" (Ps 3:9a; cf. Jonah 2:10).

Psalm 3 At-a-Glance

These sections divide the content of the psalm into digestible pieces , and are determined based on information from many of our layers, including Semantics, Poetics, and Discourse. The columns, left to right, contain: the verse numbers; the main title of the section; a brief summary of the content of that section (quote marks indicate the text is taken directly from the English text of the psalm (as per our Close-but-Clear translation); and an icon to visually represent and remember the content.

v. 1 A psalm. By David. When he was fleeing from Absalom, his son.

Superscription

v. 2 YHWH, how my adversaries have become many! Many are those rising against me.

Attack

Many are rising against me.
Many are saying, “There is no victory for him in God!”

Psalm 003 - archers.jpg

dismay

v. 3 Many are those saying about me, There is no victory for him in God!" Selah.

v. 4 But you, YHWH, are a shield for me, my honor, and the one who lifts my head.

Defense

But you, YHWH, are a shield for me…

I slept soundly; I will not fear—even of many thousands.

Psalm 003 - shield.png

confidence
courage

v. 5 I call aloud to YHWH, and he answers me from his holy mountain. Selah.

v. 6 I lay down and fell asleep. I woke up, because YHWH supports me.

v. 7 I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who have taken position against me all around.

v. 8 Rise up, YHWH! Save me, my God! For you have struck all my enemies on the jaw. You have broken wicked people's teeth.

Victory

Rise and save me, my God!

Victory is YHWH’s!

Noun-victory-2714573-8FD14F.png

triumph

v. 9 Victory is YHWH's! Your blessing is on your people. Selah.

Background Orientation for Psalm 3

Following are the common-ground assumptionsCommon-ground assumptions include information shared by the speaker and hearers. In our analysis, we mainly use this category for Biblical/Ancient Near Eastern background. which are the most helpful for making sense of the psalm. Following are the common-ground assumptionsCommon-ground assumptions include information shared by the speaker and hearers. In our analysis, we mainly use this category for Biblical/Ancient Near Eastern background. which are the most helpful for making sense of the psalm.

  • David's son, Absalom (cf. 2 Sam 3:3) amassed a large following and led a rebellion against David, forcing David to flee (2 Sam 15–19:11). "Then David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, 'Come! We must flee (וְנִבְרָחָה), or none of us will escape from Absalom (מִפְּנֵי אַבְשָׁלוֹם). We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword'" (2 Sam 15:14, NIV).
  • The king's misfortune might be a sign that YHWH has rejected him (2 Sam 16:8; cf. 2 Sam 15:26; Ps 71:10-11). And if YHWH has rejected him, then YHWH will not respond to his call for help (cf. 2 Sam 15:26; Pss 41:12; 22:9).
  • YHWH made a covenant with David, in which he promised to never reject him. He also promised to rescue him from his enemies (cf. 2 Sam 7:12-16; Ps 89:21-25).
  • YHWH has always rescued David from trouble in the past (cf. Ps 18:1). YHWH's acts of covenant loyalty in the past are evidence that he will be faithful to the covenant in the future.
  • Night sometimes offers an opportunity to strike an enemy, while the enemy is weak and resting (cf. 2 Sam 17:1-2). Thus, lying down and falling asleep represents a deep trust in YHWH's protection (cf. Ps 4:9).

Background Situation for Psalm 3

The background situation is the series of events leading up to the time in which the psalm is spoken. These are taken from the story triangle – whatever lies to the left of the star icon. Psalm 003 - Background Situation.jpg

Participants in Psalm 3

There are 5 participants/characters in Psalm 3:

Profile List

David
YHWH's people

YHWH
"YHWH" (vv. 2a, 4a, 6b, 8a, 9a)
"[my] God" (vv. 3b, 8a)

Enemies
"my adversaries" (v. 2a)
"those rising against me" (v. 2b)
"those saying about me..." (v. 3a)
"tens of thousands of people" (v. 7a)
"my enemies" (v. 8b)
"wicked people" (v. 8c)
Absalom

Profile Notes

  • The speaker in this psalm is David, the king of Israel and the representative of YHWH's people.
  • YHWH is David's God. YHWH made a covenant with David, promising to give him an eternal dynasty and kingdom and to rescue him from all of his enemies (see 2 Sam 7; Ps 89).
  • The enemies in this psalm are the many people who joined in rebellion against David under the leadership of Absalom, David's own son (see 2 Sam 15ff). Absalom is David's third-born son, the first by his wife Ma'acha, daughter of Talmi, king of Geshur (a "small Aramaic state between Bashan and Hermon" [HALOT, 205]) (2 Sam 3:3).