Psalm 3

God helps His people in times of trouble

Intro

√ David identified as the author of Psalms 3 & 4

If worry keeps you from getting a good night's sleep - these psalms are what you need!

Both probably written while David was on the run - fleeing his son Absalom.

Psalm 3 is a "morning" psalm (vs. 5 - "I awoke")

Psalm 4 is a "evening" psalm (vs. 8 - "lay down & sleep")

How was David able to sleep with so many against him? Let's look!

√ Note the use of the word "selah"

Literally = "to lift up, or exalt"

Thought to be a technical musical term probably showing accentuation, pause, interruption…

…most likely a time to reflect upon the words spoken/sung.

Ap. Reminds us that the Psalms are a collection of worship songs and that we should take time to reflect upon what His Word is speaking to our hearts.

Ex. Treasure isn't found lying around on top of the ground; it's found by those who dig.

A cry for help!

Psa. 3:1 A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.

Psa. 3:2 Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah

Psa. 3:3 But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.

Psa. 3:4 I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah

Psa. 3:5 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.

Psa. 3:6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around.

Psa. 3:7 Arise, O LORD; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.

Psa. 3:8 Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah

√ Note the context of this psalm's inspiration

Vs. 1

"A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son"

Absalom's rebellion! (ref: II Sam. 15)

David's own son out to kill him!

Ahithophel - David's closes advisor

Most of the army

The hearts of the people

David's in a bad place - he has more people against him that for him!

√ Please note - the trouble was of David's own making!

His sin with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband planted the seeds of David's trouble.

2Sa. 12:10 ‘Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’

2Sa. 12:11 “Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.

2Sa. 12:12 ‘For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’”

David's neglect of his duty as father to correct and maintain a godly standard in his home.

Ex. David did not deal with Amnon when he raped Absalom's sister Tamar. (Ref. II Sam. 13:21)

The point, all the trouble which David was experiencing when he penned Psalm 3 was of his own making! He was reaping the consequence of his own sin and failure.

Yet…

…we find David crying out to God for help and deliverance from enemies!

In fact, we find that David's testimony is that God not only heard his cry for help…

…He answered and delivered David from his troubles!

David was confident that God would…

Be a shield to him - vs. 3

Be his glory & the One who would lift his head - vs. 3

Would hear his cry for help - vs. 4

Sustain him - vs. 5

Save him - vs. 7

It is apparent that David was supremely confident not only in God's ability to save him, but also in his willingness to save him!

Why?

Because David knew that when God forgives a person of their sin…He really forgives them!

Ex. God's forgiveness

Psa. 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

And…

Jer. 31:34 “No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

Ap. Christian - are you still bound by the sins of your past?

Do you find yourself hesitant to ask God for help and deliverance because you know (of at least believe) that you're suffering the consequences of your own sin?

If so, you must understand that it's Satan playing a head game with you!

Don't listen to that voice that keeps you from calling out to God for help!

Stand on God's Word which has promised forgiveness to all who ask of Him! Then cry out like David for help and deliverance from your trouble.

1John 3:20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

And…

Rom. 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If ("since")God is for us, who can be against us?

No one - unless you listen to them!

Psalm 4

√ A cry to God (vs. 1)

Psa. 4:1 To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

David begins this psalm with a cry of thanksgiving…

…for granting him relief in the midst of difficult times.

Ex. Fleeing from Absalom

If David wrote psalm's 3 & 4 together while in the wilderness seeking to escape the rebellion of Absalom…

…then vs. 1 would indicate that David had already been granted the peace of mind that he cried out for in psalm 3!

The point is that David was able to experience the peace of God even though he was still in the midst of the most dangerous threat to his life and kingdom!

Ap. Reminded that we can experience God's peace even before He brings about our deliverance!

Ex. Jesus promised His peace to those who trust in Him

Joh 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

And…

Joh 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

The day in which we live is marked by uncertainty!

Economic failures

Rumors of war and terrorism

Horrific crimes against people

Proliferation of nuclear weapons

Enough to make even the stout heart fail!

Yet, as Christians we have been promised a peace that passes understanding based upon the hope we have in Jesus.

A great witness to the world.

√ A warning to his enemies (vs. 2-5)

Psa. 4:2 How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness And seek falsehood? Selah

Psa. 4:3 But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him.

Psa. 4:4 Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah

Psa. 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD.

Vs. 2-4 is a contrast to vs. 1

David's deliverer is God

David's enemies are only men!

Therefore, those who had set themselves against him were doomed to failure!

Note vs. 1

"How long, O you sons of men, Will you turn my glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness And seek falsehood?"

If in fact David had Absalom and his conspirators in mind when he wrote this psalm, their intent was to destroy his reputation (II Sam. 15:3).

But, David expresses his hope in the LORD to preserve and protect him and his reputation.

Ap. Take of your character and leave your reputation with the Lord.

These verses are also a warning to anyone who would set themselves against those whom God loves.

Pick on David, you're picking on God!

Ex. Saul vs. Jesus - Acts 9:4

√ Joy & peace in the Lord (vs. 6-8)

Psa. 4:6 There are many who say, “Who will show us any good?” LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.

Psa. 4:7 You have put gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.

Psa. 4:8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Vs. 6 probably a reference to those who followed David into the wilderness, yet, had no hope for victory.

David's prayer for them is that they would look to the LORD for hope and victory.

Vs. 7-8; David expresses his confidence in the LORD to keep him safe. That confidence produced a joy in David's heart greater than the joy he experienced in times of great blessing.

Ap. The lesson is that we too can experience God's joy in our lives in difficult times.

Close

√ David slept

Because he knew…

That God was for him!

That God surrounds him!

That God sustained him!

That God lifted him up!

…and, because God never sleeps (Psalm 121:3-4) - so why stay awake and worry!?

Ap. All these promises are for you and me too!

Let's apprehend them!

"If you can't sleep, don't count sheep - talk to the Shepherd!"