Psalms 3

A psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. , how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. 2 Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. 3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. The title of this psalm and many others is as a key hung ready at the door, to open it, and let us into the entertainments of it; when we know upon what occasion a psalm was penned we know the better how to expound it. This was composed, or at least the substance of it was meditated and digested in David's thought, and offered up to God, when he fled from Absalom his son, who formed a conspiracy against him, to take away, not his crown only, but his life; we have the story, 2 Sam. xv., &c. 1. David was now in great grief; when, in his flight, he went up the Mount of Olives, he wept greatly, with his head covered, and marching bare-foot; yet then he composed this comfortable psalm. He wept and prayed, wept and sung, wept and believed; this was sowing in tears. Is any afflicted? Let him pray; nay, let him sing psalms, let him sing this psalm. Is any afflicted with undutiful disobedient children? David was; and yet that did not hinder his joy in God, nor put him out of tune for holy songs. 2.

PSALM 3: 1 LORD, how my adversaries have increased! Many are those who rise up against me. David complains, in great distress, of the number of his enemies, and the reproaches they cast on him, as one forsaken of God, Psalms 3:1, Psalms 3:2; is confident, notwithstanding, that God will be his protector, Psalms 3:3; mentions his prayers and supplications, and how God heard him, Psalms 3:4, Psalms 3:5; derides the impotent malice of has adversaries, and foretells their destruction, Psalms 3:6, Psalms 3:7; and ascribes salvation to God, Psalms 3:8. This is said to be A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son - See the account, 2 Samuel 15:1 (note), etc. And David is supposed to have composed it when obliged to leave Jerusalem, passing by the mount of Olives, weeping, with his clothes rent, and with dust upon his head. This Psalm is suitable enough to these circumstances; and they mutually cast light on each other. If the inscription be correct, this Psalm is a proof that the Psalms are not placed in any chronological order. The word Psalm, ‫מזמור‬ mizmor, comes from ‫זמר‬ zamar, to cut, whether that means to cut into syllables, for the purpose of its being adapted to musical tones, or whether its being cut on wood, etc., for the direction of the singers; what we would call a Psalm in score. This last opinion, however, seems too technical.

[Bible] Thou dost rule them with a sceptre of iron, As a vessel of a potter Thou dost crush them.` And now, O kings, act wisely, Be instructed, O judges of earth, Serve ye Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Chosen One, lest He be angry, And ye lose the way, When His anger burneth but a little, O the happiness of all trusting in Him! Chapter 3 A Psalm of David, in his fleeing from the face of Absalom his son. Jehovah, how have my distresses multiplied! Many are rising up against me. Many are saying of my soul, `There is no salvation for him in God.` Selah. And Thou, O Jehovah, [art] a shield for me, My honour, and lifter up of my head. My voice [is] unto Jehovah: I call: And He answereth me from his holy hill, Selah. I — I have lain down, and I sleep, I have waked, for Jehovah sustaineth me. I am not afraid of myriads of people, That round about they have set against me. Rise, O Jehovah! save me, my God. Because Thou hast smitten All mine enemies [on] the cheek. The teeth of the wicked Thou hast broken. Of Jehovah [is] this salvation; On Thy people [is] Thy blessing! Selah. Chapter 4 To the Overseer with Stringed Instruments. — A Psalm of David. In my calling answer Thou me, O God of my righteousness. In adversity Thou gavest enlargement to me; Favour me, and hear my prayer. Sons of men! till when [is] my glory for shame? Ye love a vain thing, ye seek a lie. Selah. And know ye that Jehovah Hath separated a saintly one to Himself. Jehovah heareth in my calling to Him. `Tremble ye, and do not sin;` Say ye [thus] in your heart on your bed, And be ye silent. Selah. Sacrifice ye sacrifices of righteousness, And trust ye unto Jehovah. Many are saying, `Who doth show us good?` Lift on us the light of Thy face, O Jehovah, Thou hast given joy in my heart, From the time their corn and their wine Have been multiplied. In peace together I lie down and sleep, For Thou, O Jehovah, alone, In confidence dost cause me to dwell! Chapter 5

[Reformed Biblical] The Promise given that he will hear—Psalms 102:17. 3. The Record that the Lord has heard—Psalms 102:19-20. Verse 2. 1. Prayer in trouble is most needed. 2. Prayer in trouble is most heeded. 3. Prayer in trouble is most speeded: "Answer me speedily." Or, 1. Prayer in trouble: "In the day, "etc. 2. The prayer of trouble: "Hide not thy face; "not remove the trial, but be with me in it. A fiery furnace is a paradise when God is with us there. G. R. Verse 2 (first elause). He deprecates the loss of the divine countenance when under trouble. 1. That would intensify it a thousandfold. 2. That would deprive him of strength to bear the trouble. 3. That would prevent his acting so as to glorify God in the trouble. 4. That might injure the result of the trouble. Verse 2 (last clause). 1. We often need to be answered speedily. 2. God can so answer. 3. God has so answered. 4. God has promised so to answer. Verses 3-11. 1. The causes of grief. (a) The brevity of life. Psalms 102:3. (b) Bodily pain. Psalms 102:3. (c) Dejection of spirit. Psalms 102:4- 5. (d) Solitariness. Psalms 102:6-7. (e) Reproach. Psalms 1

[Hymns] 8 Ask of me, and for heritage the heathen I'll make thine; And, for possession, I to thee will give earth's utmost line. 9 Thou shalt, as with a weighty rod of iron, break them all; And, as a potter's sherd, thou shalt them dash in pieces small. 10 Now therefore, kings, be wise; be taught, ye judges of the earth: 11 Serve God in fear, and see that ye join trembling with your mirth. 12 Kiss ye the Son, lest in his ire ye perish from the way, If once his wrath begin to burn: bless'd all that on him stay. Psalm 3 A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. 1 O Lord, how are my foes increas'd? against me many rise. 2 Many say of my soul, For him in God no succour lies. 3 Yet thou my shield and glory art, th' uplifter of mine head. 4 I cry'd, and, from his holy hill, the Lord me answer made. 5 I laid me down and slept; I wak'd; for God sustained me. 6 I will not fear though thousands ten set round against me be. 7 Arise, O Lord; save me, my God; for thou my foes hast stroke All on the cheek-bone, and the teeth of wicked men hast broke. 8 Salvation doth appertain unto the Lord alone: Thy blessing, Lord, for evermore thy people is upon. Psalm 4 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. 1 Give ear unto me when I call, God of my righteousness: Have mercy, hear my pray'r; thou hast enlarg'd me in distress. 2 O ye the sons of men! how long will ye love vanities? How long my glory turn to shame, and will ye follow lies?

All the world can never hinder a sincere Christian from driving a secret trade with heaven, as you may see by comparing these scriptures together. [Psalms 3:2-4; Psalms 6:8-10; Psalms 138:3; Lamentations 3:55-59.] A Christian can as well hear without ears, and live without food, and fight without hands, and walk without feet—as he is able to live without secret prayer. Secret prayer is the life of our lives, the soul, the sweet, the heaven of all our earthly enjoyments. Of all the duties of piety, secret prayer is the most soul-sweetening, soul-strengthening, soul-nourishing, soul-fattening, soul-refreshing, soul-satisfying, and soul-encouraging duty. In all the ages of the world, the saints have kept the trade. In spite of all opposers and persecutors, in prisons, in dungeons, in dens, in bonds, in banishments, on racks, and in the very flames, the saints have still kept up this secret trade; as you may see at large in my treatise on closet prayer, called "The Privy Key of Heaven," to which I refer you. But,Eighthly, "If God is for us—who can be against us?" I answer, None—so as to deprive us of the sweet testimony of our renewed consciences. 2 Corinthians 1:12, "Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God