Psalm 3

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Psalm 3
Rembrandt van Rijn - David in Prayer.jpg
Psalm 3 is a prayer by David. David in Prayer by Rembrandt van Rijn (1652)
Textby David
LanguageHebrew (original)

Psalm 3 is the third Psalm of the Bible. It is a personal thanksgiving to God, who answered the prayer of an afflicted soul. This psalm is attributed to David and relates in particular to the time when he fled from Absalom his son. The story of Absalom is found in the 2 Samuel, chapters 13–18. David, deserted by his subjects, derided by Shimei, pursued for his crown and life by his ungracious son, turns to his God, makes his supplications, and confesses his faith.

Context[]

This is the first Psalm with a title in the original and it concerns a specific time of crisis in David's life. David fled Absalom because of a series of events as a result of David being under discipline for his own sins regarding Bathsheba and Uriah the Hittite as recorded in 2 Samuel 11.[1] In that light, the prayer is a model for looking to God for help even in the midst of God's chastisement. Even so, David prays "Thy blessings by upon your people".[2]

An evening and a morning are seen (verse 5) as David lays down to sleep and wakes up protected and sustained by providence. Absalom 's advisor Ahitophel is personified as the mouth who David asks God to 'break the teeth of" and in the account Ahitophel's counsel is frustrated and Ahitophel faces his demise.[3] David fleeing his son at the start of Psalm 3 is in direct contrast with taking refuge in 'the Son' at the end of Psalm 2.[4]

This is also the first Psalm which refers to a selah, which appears after verses 2, 4 and 8. The final selah possibly indicates that Psalm 3 and Psalm 4 are tied together somehow.[5]

David spent more years fleeing Saul as a young man than he spent fleeing his son Absalom. David will even write many psalms later through the book of psalms on situations where he was being chased by Saul. Here is one of the opening psalms in the book of psalms and it is about the painful experience of fleeing from his own son.

Commentary[]

Matthew Henry[]

According to Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary written in 1706, verses 1-3 represent David complaining to God of his enemies, and confiding in God. Verses 4-8 represent his triumphs over his fears, and "give God the glory", while "taking to himself the comfort".[6]

Martin Luther[]

Martin Luther felt that, overall, the goal in this Psalm is to impart the confidence of those who consider themselves followers of YHWH to call on him. "But you, Yahweh, are a shield around me, my glory, and uplifts my head." (Verse 4): This is the emphatic prayer of the oppressed who turn aside to YHWH.[7]

Although written in the mouth of David (verse 1)[8] the reader is encouraged to consider how God rescues someone like David, who was at that time very in distress, saved and later raised to be king over all Israel.

Commentary by St. Augustine of Hippo[]

New Advent: St. Augustine, Exposition on Psalm 3

Musical settings[]

Psalm 3 has been scored in music by many composers, including "Thou Art A Shield For Me",[9] by Byron Cage, "Christian Karaoke Praise Song Psalm 3 worship",[10] by Andrew Bain. In 1691, Marc-Antoine Charpentier composed around 1676 one "Domine quid multiplicati sunt", for 3 voices, 2 treble instruments and continuo, H.172. Michel-Richard Delalande composed his grand motet Domine quid sunt Multiplicati (S.37) for the offices of the Chapel of Versailles, and Henry Purcell set a variant version of the Latin text, "Jehova, quam multi sunt hostes mei," for five voices and continuo.

Uses[]

Psalm 3:6 in Jegłownik cemetery, Poland

Judaism[]

  • In the Old Testament, the prayer of Jonah in the "fish" starts with Psalm 3 and he also ends his prayer drawing on Psalm 3.[11] Jonah also draws on other psalms, namely Psalms 16, 18, 31, 42, 50, 88, 116, 118, 119 and 120.[12][13]
  • Verses 2-9 are part of the prayers of the Bedtime Shema[14] and occasional sunrise Shema.
  • Verse 9 is the eighth verse of V'hu Rachum in Pesukei Dezimra[15] and is also found in Havdalah.[16]

Eastern Orthodox Church[]

  • Psalm 3 is the first Psalm, of "The Six Psalms", which are read as part of every Orthros (Matins) service. During the reading of the Six Psalms, movement and noise are strongly discouraged, as it is regarded as one of the most holy moments of the Orthros service.[17]

Catholic Church[]

About 530 in the Rule of St. Benedict, Benedict of Nursia chose this Psalm for the beginning of the office of matins, namely as the first psalm in the liturgy of the Benedictine during the year.[18] In the abbeys that preserve the tradition, it is currently the first Psalm Sunday for the office of vigils.[19]

In the current Liturgy of the Hours, Psalm 3 is sung or recited the first Office of Readings on Sunday of the week, after the first two psalms.[20]

Book of Common Prayer[]

In the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, Psalm 3 is appointed to be read on the morning of the first day of the month.[21]

References[]

  1. ^ "David's Great Repentance by R.C. Sproul".
  2. ^ "Psalms 3 - Spurgeon's Verse Expositions of the Bible - Bible Commentaries".
  3. ^ "Free Online Bible Library | Lecture 13: Psalm 3".
  4. ^ Psalm 2:12: NKJV. Other translations vary in their treatment of this verse.
  5. ^ "Bible Gateway passage: Psalm 3 - English Standard Version".
  6. ^ Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on Psalm 3
  7. ^ Martin Luther: Dr. Martin Luthers Sämmtliche Schriften, (St. Louis 1880), p 1375.
  8. ^ Siehe: Howard N. Wallace, Psalms. Readings. A New Biblical Commentary, (Sheffield 2009).
  9. ^ Thou Art A Shield For Me Psalm 3 lyrics Archived 2009-02-26 at the Wayback Machine, by Byron Cage.
  10. ^ Christian Karaoke Praise Song Psalm 3 worship, by Andrew Bain.
  11. ^ "Jonah and the Art of Being Broken".
  12. ^ "Jonah 2 Commentary - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible".
  13. ^ https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/books/a-plus/OT-excerpt-book-of-jonah.pdf
  14. ^ The Complete Artscroll Siddur page 291
  15. ^ The Complete Artscroll Siddur page 63
  16. ^ The Complete Artscroll Siddur page 619
  17. ^ Dykstra, Tyler. "The Six Psalms". Saint George Antiochian Orthodox Church. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  18. ^ Prosper Guéranger, La règle de Saint Benoit, p. 37 & 38.
  19. ^ D’après le Complete Artscroll Siddur, compilation des prières juives.
  20. ^ The main cycle of liturgical prayers takes place over four weeks.
  21. ^ Church of England, Book of Common Prayer: The Psalter as printed by John Baskerville in 1762

External links[]

  • Psalm 3 in Hebrew and English - Mechon-mamre
  • Psalm 3 King James Bible - Wikisource
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