Псалом 3

In addition to indicating the author of the psalm, the inscription talks about the occasion and time of the latter’s writing, namely, during David’s flight from Absalom. The external and internal state of David depicted in the psalm is so consistent with his situation during the persecution from Absalom that it fully corresponds and is consistent with the indication of the time of origin of the psalm given in the inscription. It is impossible to indicate exactly at what moment this psalm was written, but one can think that after his flight from Jerusalem, when with David there was only a small group of people devoted to him, on the side of the enemies there was a huge mass that energetically pursued David, so that, apparently, salvation could not be expected for him (Ps. 3:3), and he himself feared for his life (Ps. 3:6). In the first part of the psalm, David (2–3) speaks about the degree of danger for him from many enemies, in the second (4–9) he expresses his faith in God and confidence in obtaining salvation for himself and worthy punishment of his enemies. Ps.3:2. God! how my enemies have multiplied! Many are rebelling against me; Ps.3:3. Many say to my soul: “He has no salvation in God.” “How my enemies have multiplied!” , an expression of David's fear of the increasing number of his enemies. - “They say to my soul” - they talk about my life, fate, they doubt the possibility of salvation for David, in view of his apparent defenselessness and hopeless situation. Ps.3:4. But You, Lord, are a shield before me, my glory, and You lift up my head. Ps.3:5. With my voice I cry to the Lord, and He hears me from His holy mountain. David's previous life, full of vicissitudes and numerous wars, clearly convinced him that his true intercessor, who brought him glory and victories, was and is God, to whom he turns in his present situation. Ps.3:6. I lie down, sleep and get up, for the Lord protects me. Ps.3:7. I will not be afraid of the people who have taken up arms against me from all sides. In the fact that David, surrounded by enemies from everywhere and expecting his death from minute to minute, nevertheless “lies down, sleeps and gets up” alive, he sees direct divine help, His intercession (“for the Lord protects me”), why he no longer fears the pursuing enemies who surrounded him from everywhere, and the nature of his prayer to God changes, from a mournful one to a solemn hymn. This rescue of David was a consequence of Absalom’s rejection of the advice of Ahithophel, which proposed the immediate pursuit of David, and the acceptance of Hushai’s proposal to act slowly and carefully, which enabled David to cross the Jordan and avoid imminent danger. In this David sees help from God. Ps.3:8. Arise, Lord! save me, my God! for You strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. Ps.3:9. Salvation is from the Lord. Upon Your people is Your blessing. "Arise". David prays to God not only for his salvation, but also for punishment of his enemies; “teeth” in animals - their strength; the teeth of the enemies - all the strength of the enemies. David is confident in the inevitable punishment of his enemies, whom he sees as if already punished, but for the righteous he prays for mercy before God. This psalm is the first of the so-called six psalms, which is part of Matins. The latter has its purpose - to give thanks to God for preserving life during the past night with a prayer for the sending of prosperity in the coming day, with which this psalm is in agreement ("I go to bed, sleep and get up"; "Arise, Lord! Save me"). You might be interested in: