Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Adult Bible Study on Psalm 3

Psalm 3

(New International Version)

 

A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.

 

Lord, how many are my foes!
    How many rise up against me!
Many are saying of me,
    “God will not deliver him.”

 

But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
    my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
I call out to the Lord,
    and he answers me from his holy mountain.

 

I lie down and sleep;
    I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
I will not fear though tens of thousands
    assail me on every side.

 

Arise, Lord!
    Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
    break the teeth of the wicked.

 

From the Lord comes deliverance.
    May your blessing be on your people.

 

 

1. This psalm is about David fleeing Jerusalem when his son staged a coup. You can read the story in 2 Samuel 15-17. People were trying to kill David. Others were speaking against him. His enemies were members of his own family, trusted officials, and people who were supposed to be loyal subjects.

 

Who or what would you count as enemies?

 

I think we can place our enemies into three categories: Satan and demonic powers, ourselves, and the world.

 

1 Peter 5:8 - Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

 

Satan’s only goal is to pull you away from God. He will use any temptation He can.

 

In our sinful nature, we often doubt, believe the lies Satan or the world tells us, and give into temptation. We need God to help change our thinking.

 

Romans 12:2 – Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

 

Third is the world. Every single person in the world who doesn't believe in God is, in some sense, my enemy. They make me doubt, saying, "God will not deliver you. There is no God to save. You're on your own." They propagate the lies of the temptations of the enemy and make us feel out of place for wanting to uphold the righteousness of God.

 

Christians in other parts of the world (and you could argue in the land of the free as well) need God to punish oppressive powers.

 

 

How does this psalm to teach us to answer our doubts, fears, and temptations?

 

We are to look to God. He is our Glory we can focus on. He is our shield, the One who sustains us and answers us. His Spirit communes with our spirit and lets us know He is with us, strengthening and encouraging us.

 

 

What choice can we make when "tens of thousands assail us on every side," when the problems keep coming and the tasks to do keep piling up?

 

Whereas we might not be able to make every problem go away, we can make the choice not to fear. David said, “I WILL NOT fear.” He knew God to be His sustainer, and we can trust God will keep us going through any times of trouble. He is the one who lifts our head high.

 

 

What do you notice about WHEN David wrote this?

 

"A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom." He was in the midst of one of his most heart-wrenching difficulties in life, and he praised and trusted in God.

 

Our goal is to learn to trust God while we're going through trouble rather than praising Him only once we get through it.

 

 

Again, David is going through a major problem during the writing of this psalm and probably experiencing a plethora of different emotions. But who is he talking to in this passage? Why is that significant?

 

"LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me!" David is bringing his problems to God, not complaining to other people. Perhaps this is a lesson for us to fall silent and take our problems to God first before we speak to others.

 

 

David prays that God would strike his enemies on the jaw and break the teeth of the wicked. What is significant about the type of blow he’s asking God to deliver?

 

A blow to the mouth would serve to shut his enemies up, but having a sore mouth and some broken teeth isn’t fatal. It would be painful but not final. His enemies would have a chance to repent and make peace.

 

We see David’s attitude when he later commands his army not to kill Absalom. In the final verse of this psalm, David asks for God’s blessing on His people, meaning all of Israel, not on David’s party alone.

 

 

What to DO after reading this passage

David says that God is his shield, the One who lifts His head high.

 

Pray to the Lord and ask who He wants you to be a shield around. Whose head can you lift high for the glory of God?

 

 

 

Do you have another insight into this passage? Please share below!

 

 

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