Psalm 3:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;

NIV: A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom. Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!

NASB: Lord, how my enemies have increased! Many are rising up against me.

CSB: A psalm of David when he fled from his son Absalom. Lord, how my foes increase! There are many who attack me.

NLT: O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me.

KJV: A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.

NKJV: {A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son.} Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.

David laments to the Lord that his enemies are numerous and increasing in their power against him. These formidable enemies had joined David's son Absalom in a rebellion against David. Second Samuel 15:1–6 tells how Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. With a substantial number of supporters, Absalom conspired against his father, King David. Upon hearing about the conspiracy, David and his servants fled from Jerusalem. David had become a fugitive in the wilderness as he was pursued by Absalom's military followers.

Second Samuel 17:1–3 tells us Ahithophel counseled Absalom to allow him to take 12,000 men to pursue David until David became tired and discouraged. Then they would strike David and return David's men to Absalom. This plan, Ahithophel said, would bring peace to Israel. Verse 4 informs us that this "advice seemed right in the eyes of Absalom and all the elders of Israel." Fortunately for David, his ally, Hushai, intervened and convinced Absalom to delay his attack, then warned David (2 Samuel 17:15–16).

This threat of pursuit, by thousands of determined enemies, is the background of David's plea in the psalm.

Psalm 3:1–6 discloses David's plight, arising from the violent coup being waged by his son, Absalom. David's enemies abounded and mocked him. Those around David said God would not deliver him. Psalm 7 complements this passage by expressing David's concern that his enemies constantly assault him. Despite their opposition, David trusts in the Lord as his shield and deliverer. He anticipates God's judgment on his enemies. The mockery expressed in Psalm 3:2 is similar to that of those who crucified Jesus (Luke 23:35–37).

David cries out to the Lord while being pursued by many enemies. Others are telling him the situation is hopeless, that he cannot be delivered from his trouble. However, David testifies that the Lord is his shield and deliverer. He says the Lord answered him from the site of Mount Zion. This answer to prayer led to a good night's sleep and confidence that he had nothing to fear from his many foes. He closes the psalm by declaring that the Lord had slain his enemies in the past and would do so again. The Lord would strike down David's enemies with crushing blows to the head. He knew the Lord delivers those who trust in Him, so he asks the Lord to bless His people.

Psalm 3 finds its background in David's flight from his rebellious son Absalom (2 Samuel 15—18). David had fled from the palace in Jerusalem and was hiding in the desert. This psalm is closely related to Psalm 4, both of which were written by David when he was a fugitive from Absalom. It is the first psalm in the first division of Psalms (Psalm 1—41) that is specifically ascribed to David. In this division only Psalms 1, 2, 10, and 33 do not bear an ascription. David's expressions of confidence in the Lord to protect him from his enemies are also seen in Psalms such as 25, 27, 28, 31, 35, and 41.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.