Psalm 3 - When David fled from Absalom his son
Tell the Lord all your troubles.
Title - This is the 1st Psalm with a title.
"The first word, MIZMOR, or "Psalm", is the designation of forty-four sacred poems, thirty-two of which are ascribed to David. The English reader must observe, that this word is not the same in the original Hebrew as that which forms the general title of the book of Psalms, tehillim; the latter expressing a Hymn of Praise. The word "Psalm", however, as used both in the context and in the titles of the individual compositions, is uniformly Mizmor in the original; a term which accurately defines their poetical character. To explain its proper meaning, I must have recourse to the beautiful and accurate definition of Bishop Lowth. "The word Mizmor signifies a composition, which in a peculiar manner is cut up into sentences, short, frequent, and measured by regular intervals." ...He adds that Zamar means to cut or prune, as applied to the removing superfluous branches from trees; and, after mentioning the secondary sense of the word, "to sing with a voice or instrument, "gives it as his opinion, that Mizmor may be more properly referred to the primary sense of the root, so as to mean a poem cut up into short sentences, and pruned from all superfluity of words, which is the peculiar characteristic of the Hebrew poetry." John Jebb.
v1 - What could be a worse trouble than to have to flee from his beloved son? But this was 1 of many troubles all at the same time.
This short psalm uses the word "many" negatively 4 times (v1 2x, v2 & v6). We should not change what we think is right in order to align with many.
v2 - It is not a small thing for the Lord to lift our head out of depression and anxiety.
v5 - In troubles, we are thankful for little things: being able to sleep at night and wake up in the morning. Every morning we wake because the Lord holds us.
v7 - This 1st line of v7 is the only request in this psalm. The next 2 lines of this verse are what God has done in the past with David.
v8 - The conclusion of this trouble: Your blessing is on Your people.
1/4/2011 Steve Miller
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Psalm 3 A Psalm through David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
1 1 LORD, how many trouble me!
Many rise up against me.
2 Many saying of my soul,
God won't help in his trouble.
Many saying of my soul,
God won't help in his trouble.
Selah
2 3 Thou, LORD, art a shield for me,
Who lifts my head and glory.
4 With my voice, I call to Thee(1),
You(2) hear from Your(3) mount holy.
With my voice, I call to Thee.
You hear from Your mount holy.
Selah
3 5 I laid down and fell asleep.
I woke for the LORD holds me.
6 I'll not fear many people
who surround and watch my soul.
I'll not fear many people
who surround and watch my soul.
4 7 Arise, LORD. My God save me,
for You've smitten (4)my foes' cheeks.
You've shattered the wicked's teeth.
8 From the Lord, cometh relief,
and salvation in trouble.
Your blessing's on Your people.
Selah.
1. Lit. Lord
2. Lit. He
3. Lit. His
4. Lit. all my foes
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