Psalm 3:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 3:4-8

David, having stirred up himself by the irritations of his enemies to take hold on God as his God, and so gained comfort in looking upward when, if he looked round about him, nothing appeared but what was discouraging, here looks back with pleasing reflections upon the benefit he had derived from trusting in God and looks forward with pleasing expectations of a very bright and happy issue to which the dark dispensation he was now under would shortly be brought. I. See with what comfort he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 3:4

I cried unto the Lord with my voice ,.... The experience which the psalmist had of being heard in prayer, was what gave great encouragement to his faith, as to his interest in God and salvation by him, when his enemies were so increased about him; for crying here is to be understood of prayer, as it is often used in this book of Psalms: and so the Targum renders it, "I prayed"; and this designs vocal prayer. Sometimes there is a crying in prayer and no voice heard, as it is said of Moses, ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 3:4

I cried unto the Lord with my voice - He was exposed to much danger, and therefore he had need of fervor. He heard me - Notwithstanding my enemies said, and my friends feared, that there was no help for me in my God; yet he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah: mark this, and take encouragement from it. God never forsakes those who trust in him. He never shuts out the prayer of the distressed. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 3:4

Verse 4 4.With my voice have I cried unto the Lord. He here informs us that he had never been so broken by adversity, or cast down by impious scornings, (42) as to be prevented from addressing his prayers to God And it was an infallible proof of his faith to exercise it by praying even in the midst of his distresses. Nothing is more unbecoming than sullenly to gnaw the bit with which we are bridled, and to withhold our groaning from God, (43) if, indeed we have any faith in his promise. Nor is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 3:1-8

The composition is made up of three parts—a strophe, an antistrophe, and an epode, each terminated by the word selah. Some critics, however, make out four parts, by dividing the epode. But the absence of the word selah at the close of 2 Samuel 18:7 is against this. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 3:1-8

A morning song in perilous times. In this case, as in others, the words which in our version form the title of the psalm are in the Hebrew its first verse. And they enable us, with less than the usual uncertainty, to fix on the historic occasion on which it was written. This is one of those psalms which come under those in the first division of the introductory homily. It is an historical psalm, and as such it must be studied and estimated, £ As an illustration of the way in which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 3:1-8

David's dependence on God. This psalm written by David at the time of Absalom's revolt, reminds one of the poet's lines— "Most wretehed men Are cradled into poetry by wrong; They learn in suffering what they teach in song. I. A COURSE OF AGGRAVATED TROUBLE AND DANGER . 1 . Caused by a tenderly beloved son. And yet David never mentions him; a sign how deeply he was wounded. The silence tells more than speech would do. 2. Not only his throne , but his life ... 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

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 3:4

I cried unto the Lord - That is, in these troubles, as he had always done in affliction. The form of the verb here is future - “I will cry” or call unto the Lord; probably, however, designed to state a general habit with him, that when troubles came he always called on the Lord. He speaks now of himself as if in the midst of the trouble; gives utterance to the feeling which he has always had in his sorrows; and says, “I will call upon the Lord,” thus declaring his purpose to make his appeal... read more

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