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

712

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

Previous articleTrying to Understand Isaiah 9:5-6 within its Messianic Context.
Next articleTehillim / Psalms 3, David and Absalom, Part 2, Rabbinic Commentary
Dr. Duane D. Miller received his Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. Degree in Chemical Engineering from The University of Akron Ohio. He is currently a Chemical Engineering Researcher. Duane’s research expertise has focused upon functional materials development for the control, conversion, and release of process gases in Energy production technologies. His R&D interests include computational chemistry, developing novel technologies for converting biomass to fuels and studying their fundamental interactions during the chemical conversion process. His past experience includes sorbent development for pre- and post-combustion CO2 and SO2 capture, selective absorption of H2S from methane streams, O2 capture for oxy-fuel combustion, photocatalytic reduction of alcohols, NOx reduction catalysis, the development of oxygen carriers to combust fossil fuels (CH4 and coal) for the chemical looping combustion processes, and the extraction of rare earth elements using patent pending sorbents. His research expertise has focused on operando-characterization using Infrared, Raman, and UV-Vis spectroscopy to observe the nature of the catalytic active sites and reaction intermediates under realistic reaction conditions, allowing direct correlation of molecular/electronic structures with catalyst performance during Gas-Solid / Liquid-Solid Adsorption and Photocatalytic Processes with real time online analysis of reaction products using ICP-MS and mass spectrometry. His current work involves a multi-disciplinary approach to developing, understanding, and improving the catalytic gasification of coal and methane, high temperature chemical looping combustion, and the catalytic decomposition and gasification of biomass and coal using novel microwave reactor.​ He has been studying the Hebrew Scriptures and the Torah for 20+ years and sharing what he has learned. The studies developed for MATSATI.COM are freely to be used by everyone, to God be the Glory!