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Wisdom & Poetry · Old Testament

Psalms 3

Psalm 3: a shield against ten thousands who rise up

General context

The speaker cries to the Lord that those who trouble him have increased and many rise up against him. Many say of his soul that there is no help for him in God; the word Selah follows. But the speaker calls the Lord a shield for him, his glory and the lifter up of his head. He says he cried to the Lord with his voice and the Lord heard him out of his holy hill, again marked by Selah. He lay down and slept and awoke, for the Lord sustained him, and he will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against him round about. He then calls on the Lord to arise and save him, stating that the Lord has smitten all his enemies upon the cheek bone and broken the teeth of the ungodly. The psalm closes by saying that salvation belongs to the Lord and that his blessing is upon his people, followed by a third Selah.

Cited passages: Psalms 3:1, Psalms 3:2, Psalms 3:3, Psalms 3:4, Psalms 3:5, Psalms 3:6, Psalms 3:7, Psalms 3:8

Psalms 3 (KJV)

1Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

2Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.

3But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

4I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

5I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.

6I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.

7Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.

8Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

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Historical context

The text as printed here carries no heading. Verse 1 begins directly with the cry "Lord, how are they increased that trouble me!", so no author, no occasion and no named enemy are given in this source, and none is asserted here. The speaker is a single "I" who says many rise against him and quotes what they say of his soul; the enemies are described only by number, "ten thousands of people", and by position, "round about". The Lord hears "out of his holy hill", the one place named. The past-tense statements in verse 7, that the Lord has smitten the enemies and broken their teeth, sit beside the present plea "Arise, O Lord; save me", and the text does not say whether the blows are already dealt or spoken in confidence. Selah appears three times, after verses 2, 4 and 8; the source gives no explanation of the word. The final line widens from the speaker to "thy people".

Cited passages: Psalms 3:1, Psalms 3:2, Psalms 3:6, Psalms 3:4, Psalms 3:7, Psalms 3:8

Literary context

The poem moves from complaint to confidence to appeal to a closing statement. Verses 1-2 pile up the enemies with "many" twice and quote their taunt. Verse 3 turns on "But thou", answering "no help for him in God" with three names for the Lord: shield, glory, lifter up of the head. The taunt about the speaker's "soul" is answered by a report of the "voice" that cried and was heard. Sleeping and waking in verse 5 stand as the concrete proof of being sustained, and the "many" of the opening returns as "ten thousands" that the speaker will not fear. The address shifts: verses 1-3 speak to the Lord, verses 4-6 speak about him, verse 7 turns back to command him, "Arise". Selah marks three pauses. The last verse leaves the single speaker behind and ends with "thy people", while the striking of cheek bone and teeth keeps the enemy's harm physical rather than abstract.

Cited passages: Psalms 3:1, Psalms 3:3, Psalms 3:4, Psalms 3:5, Psalms 3:6, Psalms 3:7, Psalms 3:8

Key moments

  1. Enemies increased (Psalms 3:1). The speaker tells the Lord that many rise up against him.
  2. No help in God, they say (Psalms 3:2). Many say of his soul that there is no help for him in God.
  3. Shield and lifter of the head (Psalms 3:3). The speaker answers the taunt by naming the Lord his shield and glory.
  4. Sleep and waking (Psalms 3:5). He lay down, slept and awoke because the Lord sustained him.
  5. Arise, O Lord (Psalms 3:7). He calls on the Lord to arise and save him, citing enemies already struck.
  6. Blessing on the people (Psalms 3:8). Salvation belongs to the Lord and his blessing is on his people.

For reflection

The speaker reports sleeping and waking as evidence that the Lord sustained him, while the ten thousands are still set round about; what does the psalm treat as proof of help before the trouble has ended?

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