Tehillim / Psalms 3 Study, David and Absalom, Part 1

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This week’s study is from Tehillim / Psalms 3: 1-9.  The Psalm begins by stating this is “A Psalm of David, when he fled from the presence of his son Absalom.”  Historical events are often used as the motivation for the writing of a particular Psalm.  David is crying out to the Lord saying ב   יְהֹוָה מָה-רַבּוּ צָרָי רַבִּים קָמִים עָלָי: “3:1 O Lord, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me.”  David then says ג   רַבִּים אֹמְרִים לְנַפְשִׁי אֵין יְשׁוּעָתָה לּוֹ בֵאלֹהִים סֶלָה: 3:2 Many are saying of my soul, ‘There is no deliverance for him in God.’ Selah. (NASB)  Who was David speaking of when he said that many are saying of his soul that there is no deliverance for him in God?  Here David is addressing his complaint about his situation to God and that there are many who trouble him.  There are people who even taunt him saying there is no help even from God (see 2 Samuel 16:5-14).  Following these statements, is an expression of comfort that David had received from the Lord in the past.  God’s protection in the past leads him to realize that the Lord is his shield (מָגֵן) and his glory (כְּבוֹדִי), that the Lord God is the One who is able to lift up his head (וּמֵרִים רֹאשִׁי). Read More here Tehillim 3-Part1