Psalms 3

The superscription of this Psalm is confirmed by its contents. Psalms iii. and iv. were probably composed as evening and morning hymns, with reference to the first night of David’s flight from Absalom (2 Sam. xvi., xvii.), when his life seemed to hang by a hair: for, had not God heard his prayer and defeated Ahithophel’s counsel, he could hardly have escaped.

2. Selah. “Selah” is probably a musical term, meaning pause, in which a symphony was probably introduced; and, as the pauses in music generally agreed with the pauses in sense, it often assists in rightly dividing a Psalm.

3 a shield for me. “About me” (R.V.); a protection on every side.

4. I cried . . . He heard. Rather, as R.V., “I cry . . . He answereth”: a constant experience.

5 sustained. Or, “sustaineth” (R.V.): see on ver. 4.

7 broken the teeth, etc. The Psalmist’s enemies are like wild beasts, eager to devour; but God will take away their power to injure him.