Psalm 3 - A Lament

 Psalm 3 is one of the first Psalms (in the canonical/arranged order) that comes across as a lament.

Psalm 3 is one of the first Psalms (in the canonical/arranged order) that comes across as a lament. David, having to flee from his own son, is surrounded by enemies … and crying for help. Yet his cry is a cry of confidence – as he can look back on the many times that God has delivered him. He speaks quite raw with his emotions as he cries out:

---

Psalm 3:7–8

Arise, O LORD!

Save me, O my God!

For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;

you break the teeth of the wicked.

Salvation belongs to the LORD;

your blessing be on your people! Selah (ESV)

---

While this may not be a model in how to pray like the Lord Himself taught us, it certainly is a model in some respects – which would be to pray honestly. Often in prayer I think we pray what we think God wants to hear, or what we think we ought to cry out – but the honest cry of our heart is never something that would surprise our LORD.

Additionally, the real enemy here to David is not his son Absalom who is after him – and the enemy that which he wishes God to crush. This is clearly shown in how he painfully mourns after Absalom’s death. Yet more than likely the enemy is, as is so often for us as well, the “enemies” of God – that try to steer others away, cause rebellion, and chase idols and self rather than God Himself.

One more final thought for today - even in the anguish, both in verse 2 and verse 8, David recalls that all this is nonetheless in the hands of the LORD, who is the true giver of any salvation granted.

May we trust in Him, even as we cry out in lament …