FRAMING THE PSALMS: PSALM 3

This psalm is a particular favourite of mine.  There was a time when facing great animosity and opposition I would put the tape of Ian White on in the car and listen to his marvellous rendition of this portion of Scripture.  It certainly gave comfort to my soul; but that after all was its purpose!

(http://www.amazon.co.uk/Psalms-1-2-Ian-White/dp/B000L211LE )

The comments to help frame this psalm come from two Presbyterian Scotsman and an Anglican Englishman.  Use them to help you introduce this psalm in worship

Psalm 3  John Brown of Haddington

A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

Having beheld the royal dignity of my Redeemer, let me here behold the joy, the peace, the safety of the redeemed, amidst their innumerable distresses. Here David, driven from his holy capital and high throne, by his rebellious son Absalom

(1.) Complains to his God of the number and malice of his enemies, ver. 1-2. 

(2.) He encourages himself in his God, as the source and subject-matter of his safety, joy, and honour, ver. 3. 

(3.) He recollects, how, on former occasions, his troubles had driven him to his prayers; how he had always found God ready to hear and grant his requests; how safe and comfortably he had lived under his protection; and how effectually he had broken the power and restrained the malice of his enemies, ver. 4-5, 7.

(4.) Triumphantly trusting in God, as the salvation and blesser of his people, he silences all his fears, and pours forth his prayers for new protection and deliverance, ver. 6, 8.

Think, my soul, of Jesus, who, when bulls of Bashan compassed him about, trusted in God, that he would deliver him. In all my distress, let me pour out my heart before him, believing in him as God, even my God. Let me always rejoice in the great God my Saviour. Let me trust in him at all times, that as he has delivered, and does deliver, so he will deliver me.

Psalm 3  John Cumming

David, being driven from his kingdom in consequence of the rebellion of Absalom, bewails, in great dejection, his forlorn and persecuted condition. But he reflects on the revealed character of God, and on his own past experience of His favour, and from these two points he draws strength for the present, and confidence for the future.

Let us sing this Psalm, calling to mind the goodness and love and faithfulness of God, and the many expressions of these Divine attributes which we have personally felt. — "If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." If God has given the greater gift, how much more will he give the less. God uses and bids us use past mercies as arguments for more. However numerous and besetting our sins and temptations, let us not despair, but fling ourselves more unreservedly on God in Christ.

Psalm 3 William Romaine

The title is “A psalm for David when he fled from the face of Absalom”, 2 Sam. 15,  on which occasion he spoke by the Spirit concerning the beloved Jesus, who was in like manner to be driven by his own people out of Jerusalem, and was to suffer without the gate.

In this situation he expresses his perfect confidence in God, and prays for deliverance from all his enemies, which he found, and we shall also find through him, whenever we ask in faith nothing wavering.

We here see how safe they are, who live under the care of a covenant God; they may lie down in their beds, yea in their graves, and fear no evil.

May we in singing experience some of this humble confidence, and with all our hearts ascribe this and every other blessing of salvation to the Lord Jesus Christ.