STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS
| NASB | NKJV | NRSV | TEV | NJB |
| Morning Prayer of Trust in God MT Intro “A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son” (cf. I1 Samuel 15-16) |
The Lord Helps His Troubled People
|
Prayer For Deliverance From Personal enemies (A Lament) |
Morning Prayer for Help | Morning Prayer of the Upright in Persecution |
| 3:1-2 | 3:1-2 | 3:1-2 | 3:1-2 | 3:1-2 |
| 3:3-6 | 3:3-4 | 3:3-4 | 3:3-4 | 3:3-4 |
| 3:5-6 | 3:5-6 | 3:5-6 | 3:5-6 | |
| 3:7-8 | 3:7-8 | 3:7 | 3:7-8 | 3:7-8 |
| 3:8 |
READING CYCLE THREE(see “Guide
to Good Bible Reading“)
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR’S INTENT AT
PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary which means
that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of
us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are
priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3).
Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above.
Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original
author’s intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has
one and only one subject.
1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Third paragraph
4. Etc.
WORD AND PHRASE STUDY
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 3:1-2
1O Lord, how my adversaries
have increased!
Many are
rising up against me.
2Many
are saying of my soul,
“There
is no deliverance for him in God.”Selah.
3:1-2 The psalmist felt trapped/surrounded
by adversaries (BDB 865 III).
1. they have increased (cf. Ps. 3:6)
2. they are rising up
3. they are saying
Notice the threefold use of “many” (BDB 912 I). Even for the
righteous God-fearer there are problems (real and imagined) in this fallen
world. The Psalms want to give the reader a faith worldview (i.e., the
eyes of faith, cf. 2 Kgs. 6:17). The remainder of the psalm describes
YHWH’s presence and care!
One wonders how these laments work in
1. our day
2. our faith groups
Are those who disagree with us enemies of God? I think it best to use the
psalms as words of encouragement to faith/trust in God and not as an
attack on all who disagree with me! The true enemies are those who reject
our God and His Christ!
3:2 “my soul” This is the Hebrew
word nephesh (BDB 659, KB 711-713, see full note at Gen. 35:18
online), which denotes an air-breathing
animal (i.e., related to the Hebrew word for breath and spirit). It is
used of mankind (cf. Gen. 2:7) and cattle (cf. Gen. 1:24; 2:19).
Humans are both a part of this creation and created in the image and
likeness of the Creator (cf. Gen. 1:26-27). We have both a physical
component and a spiritual component.
▣ “Selah” Notice this term
is placed in the margin, apparently for the choir director, in Ps.
3:2,4,8. The root is not certain. Here are some of the theories.
1. from Persian root for “song”
2. from Hebrew סלל (BDB 699) “to lift up,”
i.e., a higher pitch
3. from Hebrew נצח (BDB 663) meaning “always,”
functioning like “amen”
4. from LXX denoting an interlude of instruments
With all these theories it is obvious that moderns do not know what it
refers to in the Psalter. It is used over 70 times in the MT and over 90
times in the LXX.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 3:3-6
3But
You, O Lord, are a shield about me,
My glory, and the One who lifts my
head.
4I was
crying to the Lord with my voice,
And He answered me from His holy
mountain. Selah.
5I
lay down and slept;
I
awoke, for the Lord sustains me.
6I will not be afraid of
ten thousands of people
Who
have set themselves against me round about.
3:3-6 “O Lord“
See SPECIAL
TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY.
▣ “You. . .are” The psalmist
enumerates in powerful imagery the person and work of YHWH for the
believer.
1. a shield, Ps. 3:3 — Gen. 15:1; Deut. 33:29; 2 Sam. 22:3; Ps.
28:7; 33:20; 59:11; 84:11; 115:9,10,11; 119:114; 144:2 (also note 1 Pet.
1:5)
2. my glory, Ps. 3:3 — Ps. 62:7
a. honor
b. victory (cf. TEV)
3. lifts my head, Ps. 3:3
a. victory in battle
b. recognition by the judge in court
c. deliverance from death
4. answers my prayers, Ps. 3:4
5. sustains me, Ps. 3:5
6. causes me not to have fear, Ps. 3:6
3:4 “I was crying to the Lord“
This prayer for help may be Ps. 3:7a. The consequences of “He
answered me” are seen in Ps. 3:7b-8.
▣ “from His holy mountain”
This refers to the temple, where in OT imagery, YHWH dwelt between the
wings of the Cherubim over the ark of the covenant. This was the
place where heaven and earth (the spiritual and physical) met!
3:5 Sleep is possible because of YHWH’s
presence, peace, and protection (cf. Ps. 4:8; Pro. 3:24). Psalm 3:5a is an
idiom for a restful night’s sleep! This is possible because of one’s faith
and trust in YHWH, His presence, His promises, His character!
3:6 This is hyperbolic, idiomatic language.
The term “ten thousand” (BDB 914) is an idiom for an innumerable
host. The plural (as here) intensifies this
(cf. Deut. 33:2,17; 1 Sam. 18:7; Micah 6:7).
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 3:7-8
7Arise,
O Lord; save me, O my God!
For You have smitten all my enemies
on the cheek;
You have
shattered the teeth of the wicked.
8Salvation
belongs to the Lord;
Your blessing upon Your people!
Selah.
3:7 This verse begins with two imperatives (i.e., prayer requests).
1. arise — BDB 877, KB 1086, Qal imperative
used in the sense of entreating YHWH to act, cf. Num. 10:35; Ps. 7:6;
9:19; 10:12; 44:26; 68:1; 74:22; 82:8; 132:8; as enemies “arose,”
now the palmist calls on YHWH to rise up (i.e., from His throne)!
2. save — BDB 446, KB 448, Hiphil imperative,
which in the OT, denotes deliverance from the trials, pains, issues of
this life (Ps. 3:8)
SPECIAL
TOPIC: SALVATION (OLD TESTAMENT TERM)
▣ “has smitten. . .has shattered”
YHWH brings deliverance by forcefully dealing with the psalmist’s
adversaries.
1. has smitten — BDB 645, KB 697, Hiphil perfect
2. has shattered — BDB 990, KB 1402, Piel perfect
The “cheek” (BDB 534 I) and “teeth” 9BDB 1042 I) are
idioms of shame and defeat (cf. 1 Kgs. 22:24; Job 16:10; Ps. 58:6; Micah
5:1). It specifically refers to their hateful words (cf. Ps. 3:2).
3:8 There are no verbs
in Ps. 3:8. Often the biblical Hebrew “to be” verb is supplied by the reader.
▣ “Selah” See notes at Psalm
3:2.
3:9 Notice how an individual lament is used
to reflect a corporate concern (i.e., “Thy people,” of Ps. 3:9;
Ps. 25:22; 28:9). YHWH brings salvation/deliverance, not only to
individuals who ask but to the nation who asks (i.e., 2 Chr. 7:14).
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means
that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of
us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are
priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the
major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be
thought-provoking, not definitive.
1. Who are the adversaries?
2. Why are they denying YHWH’s deliverance?
3. What does the imperative “arise”
mean?
What are its possible backgrounds
4. What does “Selah” mean?
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