Psalm 3:2-6 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 3:3

But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me ; or, about me(see the Revised Version). (For the sentiment, comp. Genesis 15:1 ; Deuteronomy 33:29 ; 2 Samuel 22:3 ; Psalms 28:7 ; Psalms 33:20 ; Psalms 84:9 , etc.) The expression has peculiar force in David's mouth, who, as a "man of war," fully appreciated the saving power of a shield. My glory (comp. Psalms 62:7 ). And the lifter up of mine head . As God had raised up David to the throne ( 2 Samuel 2:4 ; 2 Samuel 5:3 ), and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 3:3

God the believer's Glory. "My Glory." When Joseph said to his brothers, "Ye shall tell my father of all my glory," he meant the dignity and power to which God's wonder-working providence had raised him from the dungeon. In an hour it had suddenly become his; and any hour death might as suddenly bereave him of it. When God says, "My glory will I not give to another," he speaks of that which is eternally, essentially, unchangeably his own. But in the text, faith boldly blends these two in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 3:3

Bright morning after a dark night. I. THE SORROWS OF THE NIGHT . The darkness without images the darkness within. 1 . There is the consciousness of danger. Enemies are numerous. Thrice are they called "many." They are also strong and merciless—wild beasts that make the night hideous with their roaring. 2 . Worse still, there is the feeling of helplessness. Friends are gone. Solitary and forsaken, all seems lost. There is no star of hope to break the gloom. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 3:4

I cried unto the Lord with my voice ; rather, I cry unto the Lord with my voice ; i.e. earnestly and constantly (comp. Psalms 77:1 ; Psalms 142:1 ). And he heard (rather, hears) me out of his holy hill ; or. "the hilt of his holiness" (comp. Psalms 2:6 ). Though David is in exile at Mahanaim ( 2 Samuel 17:24 ), his thoughts revert to Jerusalem, to the holy hill of Zion, and the ark of God, which he has there" set in its place" ( 2 Samuel 6:17 ); and he knows that God, who... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 3:5

I laid me down and slept ; literally, as for me , I laid me down , etc. A contrast seems intended between the king and some of his companions. "I, for my part," he says, "confident in God, calmly laid me down and slept; I did not allow the danger which I was in to interfere with my repose at night." Others, probably, were less trustful. I awaked . When morning came, i.e; I awoke, as usual, from quiet and refreshing slumbers. For the Lord sustained me; rather, sustaineth me. Now... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 3:6

I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people . (On the vast multitude of people that had collected to attack the fugitive king, see the comment on Psalms 3:1 .) David, however, did not fear them. Like Asa ( 2 Chronicles 14:11 ) and Judas Maccabeus (1 Macc. 3:18), he knew that there was no zeal might in ,' the multitude of an host" ( Psalms 33:16 ). God could save equally with many or with few, and against many or against few. That have set themselves against me round about; or, ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 3:6

The truth about numbers. We have heard of the vox regis , and in these last days we are threatened with the equally dangerous and delusive vox populi. Let us consider— I. NUMBERS DO NOT DETERMINE THE QUESTION OF RIGHT . There is a tendency with many to shirk responsibility. They look to others. Surely what the many say must be right. But this is folly. God has given us reason and freedom. We must judge for ourselves. Only what we know to be true can be truth to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 3:1-8

:TitleA Psalm of David - literally, belonging to David; that is, belonging to him as the author. This is marked in the Hebrew as the first verse, and so in the Syriac version, the Latin Vulgate, and the Septuagint, making in the Hebrew, and in each of these versions, nine verses in the psalm instead of eight, as in our translation. This may have been prefixed to the psalm by the author himself, for it was not uncommon in ancient times for an author to prefix his name to his own composition, as... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 3:2

Many there be which say of my soul - Or rather, perhaps, of his “life,” for so the word used here - נפשׁ nephesh - frequently means Leviticus 17:11; Deuteronomy 12:23; Genesis 9:4; Genesis 35:18; 1 Kings 17:21. The object of their persecution, as here stated, was not his soul, as such, in the sense in which we now understand the word, but his life; and they now said that they were secure of that, and that all things indicated that God would not now interfere to save him. They were perfectly... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 3:3

But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me - Not only in these dangers, but in all dangers. The declaration here has a general form, as if he could trust in him at all times. It shows what his feelings were on the occasion here referred to, when dangers stood thick around him, and what his feelings habitually were in times of peril. The shield was a well-known part of ancient armor, of use, according to the ancient modes of warfare, when swords, and spears, and arrows were employed, but of use only... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 3:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 3:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 3:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 3:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 3:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 3:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 3:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 3:1-8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 3:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 3:3

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