Psalm 3

The most helpful thing for me to do when trying to understand a psalm is to break it up into parts.  Breaking it up, ironically, brings unity.  It also gives my heart a template to follow in my own devotional time as well as serving to remind me that I am not alone in my suffering and sorrow. A great cloud of witnesses has gone before me.

Psalm 3 really lends itself to this.  We know already from the 1st verse when it was written (when David fled from his son Absalom).  Verses 1 and 2 outline David’s complaint...to David’s credit, he is pretty succinct.  My complaints tend to go longer. :)

Verses 3 and 4 exalt God as David’s help and His Deliver.  These verses show us that David confidence is in His God.  The next two verses (5 & 6) speak to God’s support and preservation even as David sleeps.  David can rest without fear.  In the last two verses we find David strengthening himself in God for what is coming knowing that the battle is not his.  God will fight for him.

Unity...complaint...declaration of dependence on and confidence in God....freedom from fear because God is His support...and the sure and certain knowledge that God will fight His battles...Salvation is of the Lord.

Laying out my complaint...declaring my confidence...sleeping anxiety free and acknowledging that God’s help and blessing are mine. Thank you, Father, for Your word.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.—2 Tim 3:16-17

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.—Hebrews 4:12