THE LORD SHIELDS ME FOR HIS GLORY
Key verse: 3
NIV
Psalm 3[a]
A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.(A)
1 Lord, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.(B)”[b]
3 But you, Lord, are a shield(C) around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.(D)
4 I call out to the Lord,(E)
and he answers me from his holy mountain.(F)
5 I lie down and sleep;(G)
I wake again,(H) because the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not fear(I) though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.(J)
Footnotes
Cross references
- Psalm 3:1 : 2Sa 15:14
- Psalm 3:2 : Ps 22:8; 71:11; Isa 36:15; 37:20
- Psalm 3:3 : S Ge 15:1
- Psalm 3:3 : Ps 27:6
- Psalm 3:4 : S Job 30:20
- Psalm 3:4 : Ps 2:6
- Psalm 3:5 : S Lev 26:6
- Psalm 3:5 : Ps 17:15; 139:18
- Psalm 3:6 : Job 11:15; Ps 23:4; 27:3
- Psalm 3:6 : Ps 118:11
- Psalm 3:7 : S 2Ch 6:41
- Psalm 3:7 : Ps 6:4; 7:1; 59:1; 109:21; 119:153; Isa 25:9; 33:22; 35:4; 36:15; 37:20; Jer 42:11; Mt 6:13
- Psalm 3:7 : Job 16:10
- Psalm 3:7 : Job 29:17; Ps 57:4; Pr 30:14; La 3:16
- Psalm 3:8 : Ps 27:1; 37:39; 62:1; Isa 43:3, 11; 44:6, 8; 45:21; Hos 13:4; Jnh 2:9; Rev 7:10
- Psalm 3:8 : Nu 6:23; Ps 29:11; 129:8
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Save Me, O My God
A Psalm of David, (A)when he fled from Absalom his son.3 O Lord, (B)how many are my foes!
Many are (C)rising against me;
2 many are saying of my soul,
(D)“There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah[a]
3 But you, O Lord, are (E)a shield (F)about me,
my glory, and (G)the lifter of my head.
4 I (H)cried aloud to the Lord,
and he (I)answered me from his (J)holy hill. Selah
5 I (K)lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
6 I (L)will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have (M)set themselves against me all around.
7 (N)Arise, O Lord!
Save me, O my God!
For you (O)strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you (P)break the teeth of the wicked.
8 (Q)Salvation belongs to the Lord;
your blessing be on your people! Selah
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Footnotes
- Psalm 3:2 The meaning of the Hebrew word Selah, used frequently in the Psalms, is uncertain. It may be a musical or liturgical direction
Cross references
- Psalm 3:1 : See 2 Sam. 15:14-17
- Psalm 3:1 : 2 Sam. 15:12
- Psalm 3:1 : 2 Sam. 18:31, 32
- Psalm 3:2 : Ps. 71:11; [2 Sam. 16:8]
- Psalm 3:3 : Ps. 28:7; 84:9; 119:114; Gen. 15:1
- Psalm 3:3 : Job 1:10
- Psalm 3:3 : Ps. 27:5, 6; [Job 10:15]
- Psalm 3:4 : Ps. 77:1; 142:1
- Psalm 3:4 : Ps. 34:4; 60:5; 108:6; [Ps. 6:8; 34:6]
- Psalm 3:4 : See Ps. 2:6
- Psalm 3:5 : Ps. 4:8; [Lev. 26:6; Job 11:18, 19; Prov. 3:24]
- Psalm 3:6 : [Ps. 23:4; 27:3]
- Psalm 3:6 : Isa. 22:7; [1 Kgs. 20:12]
- Psalm 3:7 : Ps. 7:6; 9:19; 10:12; Num. 10:35
- Psalm 3:7 : See Job 16:10
- Psalm 3:7 : Ps. 58:6; Job 29:17
- Psalm 3:8 : Ps. 37:39; 62:7; Isa. 43:11; 45:21; Jer. 3:23; Hos. 13:4; Jonah 2:9; Rev. 7:10; 19:1
3 O Lord, (B)how many are my foes!
Many are (C)rising against me;
2 many are saying of my soul,
(D)“There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah[a]
3 But you, O Lord, are (E)a shield (F)about me,
my glory, and (G)the lifter of my head.
4 I (H)cried aloud to the Lord,
and he (I)answered me from his (J)holy hill. Selah
5 I (K)lay down and slept;
I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.
6 I (L)will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have (M)set themselves against me all around.
7 (N)Arise, O Lord!
Save me, O my God!
For you (O)strike all my enemies on the cheek;
you (P)break the teeth of the wicked.
8 (Q)Salvation belongs to the Lord;
your blessing be on your people! Selah
Footnotes
- Psalm 3:2 The meaning of the Hebrew word Selah, used frequently in the Psalms, is uncertain. It may be a musical or liturgical direction
Cross references
- Psalm 3:1 : See 2 Sam. 15:14-17
- Psalm 3:1 : 2 Sam. 15:12
- Psalm 3:1 : 2 Sam. 18:31, 32
- Psalm 3:2 : Ps. 71:11; [2 Sam. 16:8]
- Psalm 3:3 : Ps. 28:7; 84:9; 119:114; Gen. 15:1
- Psalm 3:3 : Job 1:10
- Psalm 3:3 : Ps. 27:5, 6; [Job 10:15]
- Psalm 3:4 : Ps. 77:1; 142:1
- Psalm 3:4 : Ps. 34:4; 60:5; 108:6; [Ps. 6:8; 34:6]
- Psalm 3:4 : See Ps. 2:6
- Psalm 3:5 : Ps. 4:8; [Lev. 26:6; Job 11:18, 19; Prov. 3:24]
- Psalm 3:6 : [Ps. 23:4; 27:3]
- Psalm 3:6 : Isa. 22:7; [1 Kgs. 20:12]
- Psalm 3:7 : Ps. 7:6; 9:19; 10:12; Num. 10:35
- Psalm 3:7 : See Job 16:10
- Psalm 3:7 : Ps. 58:6; Job 29:17
- Psalm 3:8 : Ps. 37:39; 62:7; Isa. 43:11; 45:21; Jer. 3:23; Hos. 13:4; Jonah 2:9; Rev. 7:10; 19:1
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
This psalm was written when King David was fleeing Jerusalem after his son Absalom rebelled. In verses 1-2, David was stung with betrayal. Many predicted that David would surely lose his kingdom. But in verses 3-4, David declared that God is his Shield, and God would hear him from his holy hill. David did not rely on his army or past successes, but on God’s glory to be revealed. When we face rebellion, betrayal, and doubters, we need to lift our heads, declare by faith that God is our Shield, reveal his glory, and believe he hears us.
In verses 5-6, David proclaims that he can sleep, because God sustains him. He can rise from his bed and walk on, because God sustains him. Though tens of thousands pursue him, God sustains him. How unshakeable David’s faith was in God’s love and protection! Lastly, in verses 7-8, David declares the battle cry and trusts in God to give him victory for the nation and the people to be blessed. David was a shepherd king to the end, even when those he loved betrayed him.
Prayer: Father, thank you for hearing my calls for help and being my Shield. Please help me to trust your love and reveal your glory.
One Word: The Lord shields me for his glory
