Изъяснение псалма 3-го.

Ps.3:1. Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son. “A Psalm to David, who at times fled from the face of Absalom his son.” Although this story is known to the more zealous, I will retell it briefly for the careless. The great David, after committing this particular lawlessness, fell into many and various disasters. Not only the neighboring peoples were inspired to confrontation and war, but his very house gave way to rebellion, lawlessness followed lawlessness, Amnon's lewdness led to the murder of Absalom, fratricide led to rebellion against his father and the apostasy of his subjects. While Divine grace was upon David, nothing came near him. When, for the crime he committed, grace retreated; vice took its place, produced something worthy of tears, and produced many disasters. At this time, fleeing from his son and from those who, together with this son, took up arms against him, he wrote this psalm; because, due to the warm repentance he brought, God’s Spirit then acted in him. Ps.3:2. God! how my enemies have multiplied! Many are rebelling against me. Ps.3:3. Many say to my soul: “There is no salvation for him in God.” “Lord, why have you multiplied the cold of Mi? Many people rise up against me." “Many people say to my soul: there is no salvation for him in his God.” Many and all sorts of enemies attack me from everywhere. But those who mock me and claim that I am deprived of Your providence grieve me more. And I know that you will not tolerate leaving me, who has sinned grievously, neglected. On the contrary, you will exalt the one who has now become humiliated because of sin and show him as a conqueror of his enemies. For he expressed this by saying: Ps.3:4. But You, Lord, are a shield before me, my glory, and You lift up my head. “But you, Lord, are my protector, my glory, and lift up my head.” I do not place my hope in the kingdom, not in dominion, but I believe that You are my glory, and I hope that by Your right hand I will soon be exalted. Ps.3:5. With my voice I cry to the Lord, and He hears me from His holy mountain. “With my voice I cried to the Lord, and He heard Me from His holy mountain.” Therefore, with all my zeal I bring you a prayer, knowing that you will soon fulfill these petitions. By appeal we should mean here not a voice or a cry, but spiritual zeal. For to blessed Moses, although he was silent, this is what the God of all said: “Why are you crying to Me?” (Exodus 14:15), calling silence a cry, due to diligent mental prayer. It is said: “having heard me from His holy mountain,” in accordance with the opinion accepted in ancient times. For then they thought that the God of all dwells in the tabernacle; because there he also gave answers to the priests. Ps.3:6. I lie down, sleep and get up, for the Lord protects me. “I fell asleep and fell asleep, and arose, for the Lord would intercede for me.” Divine Scripture often calls disasters at night; because those who have fallen into great sorrow imagine themselves as being in darkness. And the concept of sleep is inextricably linked with the concept of night. Therefore, David means both sorrow and deliverance from sorrow. For this is shown by the words: “I arose, for the Lord will intercede for me,” that is, taking advantage of God’s help, I overcame the disaster that struck me. Because Ps.3:7. I will not be afraid of the people who have taken up arms against me from all sides. 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. “I will not be afraid of those people around who attack me.” “Rise up, Lord, save me, my God.” If You are with me, this is enough to scatter a lot of darkness for me. “For thou hast struck all our enemies in vain; thou hast crushed the teeth of sinners.” Therefore, grant me complete salvation, and as You have repeatedly punished for untruth those who had unjust enmity towards me, both fellow tribesmen and foreigners, and the Israelites, and the Amalekites, and even Saul himself; so now grant me salvation. The words: “thou shattered the teeth of sinners,” mean: deprived them of all their strength; the image of expression is borrowed from animals, which, if they lack teeth, are not at all dangerous and are easily overcome. Ps.3:9. Salvation is from the Lord. Upon Your people is Your blessing. “Salvation is the Lord’s,” that is, I have no hope in man, but I expect salvation from You, and I am not the only one waiting, but Your people, who are with me under attack from enemies, are also waiting. I also have concern for the attacking enemies, because they too are called Your people. Therefore, O Lord, grant both of them the blessing of peace. For David expressed this when he said: “And upon Thy people shall Thy blessing be.” For blessed Moses also listed peace among his blessings. We also find in history that blessed David had great concern for the people and for his son himself, who attempted his father’s life, and cared more about peace than about victory over the people. You might be interested in: