Psalm 3

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

O Lord, how many are my foes!
Many are rising against me;
many are saying of me,
there is no help for him in God.
Selah

But thou, O Lord, art a shield about me,
my glory, and the lifter of my head.
I cry aloud to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy hill.
Selah

I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, for the Lord sustains me.
I am not afraid of ten thousands of people
who have set themselves against me round about.

Arise, O Lord!
Deliver me, O my God!
For thou dost smite all my enemies on the cheek,
thou dost break the teeth of the wicked.

Deliverance belongs to the Lord;
thy blessing be upon thy people!
Selah

Many people think of King David fleeing from Absalom when they read this Psalm. Historically, this may be true. There is also a prophetic work in this Psalm. In a way, one can at this Psalm and imagine Jesus, the Son, praying to God the Father, the “Lord” (v. 4). Absalom and his army represent the fallen angels who rise up against our Lord Jesus Christ. Since we are Christians, they also rise up against us well.

The pattern of this Psalm then draws attention from David to Christ to ourselves. Our humanity wants to fear the ten thousands that rise against us. Christ sets the standard in that we will be be afraid of these ten thousand. Though these ten thousand may be in denial or reject mankind’s salvation in Jesus Christ. The truth is that our salvation is in God the Father. Christ directs us to the Father but our lives set in Him through His incarnation and resurrection. Therefore, our help and protection comes from the Lord.

There is a reason this Psalm is read during the Orthodox matins service in morning, for in that verse, “I wake again, for the Lord sustains me” after laying down and sleeping within the protection of the Lord — we acknowledge that the Lord helps and sustains us. He shields and keeps watch over us over night, and at all times. He saves and delivers His people, meaning us.

Though we may be stacked against the odds in life, our visible and invisible enemies, the Lord protects us. Salvation and deliverance is found within Christ.