Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 3
Third PSALM.
David being much troubled at the unnatural and undutiful rebellion of his son and subjects, makes his complaint to God, lamenting his enemies strength and opprobries. But notwithstanding chears up himself by his faith in God to restore him, as by an answer to a prayer he was assured. In the …aith whereof for all his many adversaries, he comforts himself and is confident, and prays that God would make good this his confidence by delivering him now as heretofore, in respect of his promise to make him a blessed type of Christ to his people.
A Psalm made by Davidupon occasion of his flying from Absalom his son,Psalm 3. A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son. when he rebelled against him.
1 LOrd how strange and unexpectedly are new enemies risen up to molest and vex me,1LOrd how are they encreased that trouble me… many are they that rise up against me. when I was in hope of Rest and Peace, not onelyonly mine old inveterate ones of the house of Saul, but even mine own off-spring, and almost all Israel rebel against me, and go about to take the Kingdom from me?
2 And to such straits am I now brought worse than ever,2Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. as that most men give me for lost, and by reason of my sin which hath caused this trouble, they think me to be utterly out of favour with thee, so that they are confident they shall prevail, for that thou hast quite rejected me, which I would have them know would be to me the worst of evils.
3 But though my sin be great,3But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory and the lifter up of my head. for which thou hast brought this distress upon me, so that I am esteemed as quite undone; yet cannot I so easily yield up my faith, and distrust thy promise and goodness. But am confident thou that art the Lord Almighty, and my good God, wilt now deliver me from mine enemies as thou hast ever done, and wilt restore me to, and maintain me in, mine honour which thou hast given me, and turn my sorrow into joy.
4I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.4 Nor do I speak this presumptiously or by guess, but am well assured of it, by a special answer I received from God in mine earnest prayer, which I made towards mount Sion, where his Ark resides. And this my confidence to find mercy with God, I care not who know, so sure am I of it.
5I laid me down and slept; I awaked, for the Lord sustained me.5 Which hath so comfortably secured me in mine own mind, as that for all my trouble I can sleep as quietly, and wake as chearfully as at any time before; The Lord hath given me such a spirit of confidence and assurance, that he will be the same God to me that he hath been, and will sustain me now as he hath done heretofore, maugre mine enemies.
6I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people that have set themselves against me round about.6 So that, though I must needs confess in outward appearance my condition is very forlorn, beeing fain to flie before mine enemies, yet I am so comforted in God, as that my faith is far above my fear, so that though multitudes oppose me, and the whole Kingdom (as it were) on every hand rebel against me, and but a very few left to take my part, whilest God is for me, I care not who or how many be against me.
7Arise, O Lord, save me, O my God; for thou hast smitten all …ine enemies upon the cheek bone: thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.7 And now, O Lord, let it appear that I speak the truth, shew thy self in my behalf, put forth thine Almighty power and save me, who thou knowest am thine, and one that trusts in thee, and cause I have to do so, for thou hast ever been gracious to me, and defeated mine enemies, though they have been never so strong, and I in never such peril, yet hast thou brought me out, and set me free from the malicious cruelty of all those ungodly ones that have opposed me, for such and none other have ever been mine enemies.
8 So that it is neither the power of mine adversaries,8Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah. nor the straits I am in, that shall make me doubt of deliverance, whilest I have a God to trust in, who can, and will preserve me as he hath done, (for to him belongeth the glory of my preservation) because he hath firmly purposed, and faithfully promised his chief and choisest blessing to his Church and people by me, which shall not be frustrated, even his Son Christ to rule over them, and to be victorious for them, of whom he hath made me the Type. Oh that Israel would understand this, submit to it, and praise him for it.