Psalm 3:1-8

Rachel Workman: ¹ O Lord, I have so many enemies;
    so many are against me.
² So many are saying,
    “God will never rescue him!” Interlude^[a]
3 But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
    you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
⁴ I cried out to the Lord,
    and he answered me from his holy mountain. Interlude
I love how David says this. Although things look bad, God you are a shield around me.
⁵ I lay down and slept,
    yet I woke up in safety,
    for the Lord was watching over me.
⁶ I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies
    who surround me on every side.
⁷ Arise, O Lord!
    Rescue me, my God!
Slap all my enemies in the face!
    Shatter the teeth of the wicked!
⁸ Victory comes from you, O Lord.
    May you bless your people. Interlude
This is a beautiful Psalm, it actually blows me away. it makes my faith look weak. David was in the mist of a crisis and still knew God's ability. He still gave glory to God. And I get out of sorts with God when things don't go just so so... Shame on me.

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John Burnett:  3 O Lord, how my adversaries have increased!
Many are rising up against me.
² Many are saying ^[b]of my soul,
“There is no ^[c]deliverance for him in God.” ^[d]Selah.

³ But You, O Lord, are a shield about me,
My glory, and the One who lifts my head.
⁴ I was crying to the Lord with my voice,
And He answered me from His holy ^[e]mountain. Selah.
^5 [f]I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.
⁶ I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me round about.

⁷ Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God!
For You ^[g]have smitten all my enemies on the ^[h]cheek;
You ^[i]have shattered the teeth of the wicked.
^8 [j]Salvation belongs to the Lord;
Your blessing ^[k]be upon Your people! Selah.

This Psalm is as relevant today as it was when David wrote it.  The Holy Spirit has held back the world’s attack on Israel and as the hatred for Israel grows, we know that God will protect His people.  Hamas has complained of Israel’s God turning rockets from their intended targets.  Salvation belongs to the Lord through His Son Jesus Christ.

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Krista Cook:  In times of trouble, we can know that God is our shield and our glory.  We can be assured that He hears us and will sustain us.  So thankful for salvation and His blessings!

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Mike Grimm:  ¹ O Lord, I have so many enemies;
    so many are against me.

² So many are saying,
    “God will never rescue him!” Interlude

³ But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
    you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.

When Circumstances go against us it is tempting to think that God also is against us. But David reminds us that the opposite is true. When everything seems to go against us, God is still for us. If circumstance has turned against you, don’t blame God – seek Him.

⁴ I cried out to the Lord,
    and he answered me from his holy mountain. Interlude

God responds to us when we urgently pray to Him.

⁵ I lay down and slept,
    yet I woke up in safety,
    for the Lord was watching over me.

Pour out your heart to God, and thank Him that He is in control. Then sleep will come.

⁶ I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies
    who surround me on every side.

⁷ Arise, O Lord!
    Rescue me, my God!
Slap all my enemies in the face!
    Shatter the teeth of the wicked!

I look at this verse two different ways; 1) David appears to want revenge, or 2) David wants equal treatment for his enemies. God says that revenge is His. However, does “equal treatment” count as revenge? I think it does if we are asking God to perform it. I may be wrong.

⁸ Victory comes from you, O Lord.
    May you bless your people. Interlude

I think verse 8 shows the humility behind David’s words – he realized that faith in God’s timing was the answer to his question about the success the wicked had unfairly achieved.