Christianity

Psalms 3A Morning Prayer Under Siege

Summary

Psalm 3 is the prayer of someone surrounded by enemies who claim God will not help him. Its title links it to David fleeing from his son Absalom, an episode told in 2 Samuel 15. The speaker calls God his shield, recalls sleeping and waking safely under God's care, and asks to be saved. It closes by declaring that salvation belongs to the LORD. Eastern Orthodox Christians pray it daily among the six psalms of morning prayer.

Key verse

“But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.”

Psalms 3:3

Themes

Trust Amid Enemies
God as Shield
Peaceful Sleep
Deliverance

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

Christianity
2 Samuel 15: David Flees from Absalom
This chapter tells of Absalom's revolt and David leaving Jerusalem in tears, the setting the psalm's heading assigns to the prayer.
Judaism
Tehillim 3 in the JPS 1917 Tanakh
In the Hebrew text the heading counts as verse 1, so verse numbers run one ahead of the KJV. Rabbinic discussion noted the oddity of a song from a father fleeing his own son.

Questions about Psalms 3

What is the background of Psalm 3?

Its heading says David wrote it when he fled from Absalom his son. Many scholars treat such headings as early editorial notes rather than original parts of the poems, but they reflect how the psalms were read in ancient Israel.

What does Selah mean?

Selah appears three times in Psalm 3 and over seventy times in the Psalms. Its meaning is uncertain; common suggestions are a musical pause, an instruction to raise the voice, or a liturgical response.