Psalm 3:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.

NIV: I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.

NASB: I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.

CSB: I lie down and sleep; I wake again because the Lord sustains me.

NLT: I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me.

KJV: I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.

NKJV: I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.

In the middle of a dire threat, David is praying to express his faith that God will ultimately deliver him (Psalm 3:1–4). This specific psalm relates to the threat of David's own son, Absalom, who was counseled to send a 12,000-man army to kill his own father (2 Samuel 17:1–4). That plan was narrowly thwarted by Hushai, an ally of David (2 Samuel 17:15–16). This is not the first time David has encountered danger, however (Psalm 18:3–6). Recalling a prior stressful event when his enemies threatened his life, David says he "lay down and slept." Although David was surrounded by his enemies, he felt secure because the Lord was on his side. Psalm 91:14–15 promises: "Because he holds fast to me in love, I will honor him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him."

Daniel 6 relates the story of how King Darius' high officials and viceroys conspired against Daniel to have him executed. They persuaded the king to pass a law that forbade anyone to ask anything of any god or man except of the king for thirty days. Whoever disobeyed the law would be cast into a lions' den. They knew that Daniel prayed three times a day to the Lord, so they expected him to break the law and be thrown to the lions. Although Daniel knew about the law, he prayed as usual to the Lord and was apprehended and cast into the lions' den. However, God sent an angel to seal the lions' mouths. The next morning the king rushed to the den and learned that Daniel was safe. Daniel testified that God had delivered him. The king released Daniel, but had his accusers and their families cast into the den, where the lions killed them.

We may not always be aware of all the potentially harmful situations from which God delivers us, but we can trust that nothing happens outside of His power or control.

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.