This little chapter is a gem. The Psalms are more than idyllic poetry about life; they are raw snapshots of the human heart.
I want to break Psalm 3 into segments and talk about how the psalmist, King David, used truth to battle both the hard realities and the lies facing him.
When Life is Hard
David did not mince any words.
“O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me.” (vs 1)
David isn’t being overly dramatic; he’s simply stating the cold facts. He has quite a few enemies at this point in his life, and they’re on the move. Actually, King David wrote Psalm 3 as an old man fleeing for his life while his son conspired against him and captured the royal city. No biggie.
This is a helpful pattern for me. Nothing is too big or too small to bring straight to God and tell it like it is. (He’s God. He can handle it!)
The Lie
This is perhaps the most fascinating verse in the whole psalm to me.
“Many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God.” (vs 2)
This isn’t David’s idea; he is telling God what others are saying. Apparently, as the king flees from his palace in haste and without even provision for food, he overheard his citizens’ murmurs. “God can’t save him this time.”
Have you heard this voice? I have. When circumstances are hard, the enemy whispers that God may have intervened before, but I can’t expect God’s help this time.
The word for “salvation” in this verse is the Hebrew word “Yeshuw’ah,” the Hebrew equivalent of “Jesus.” Try reading it with the substitute: “There is no Jesus for him in God.” When someone tells me that Jesus will not save me… that God did not send Jesus for this situation… those are fightin’ words.
This was a direct attack against David’s soul, and it was a lie.
David’s Response
David recognized the lie. He didn’t just flag it as false; he actively opposed it with truth.
“But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” (vs 3)
David quit listening to lies and immediately prayed to God. He spoke truth into his situation: God is his shield. God is his glory. God exalts him.
When lies try to take us hostage, we have the weapon of truth. We have every right to shut down lies and refuse to listen. Lies don’t just leave; we need to counter them with truth.
The Scene Unfolds
God showed up. Verses 4 and 5 describe how God heard and protected David. In other words, when David put his faith in God, God proved trustworthy.
Earlier, David had just enough faith to counter the first lie. Now that he has seen God come through for him, his faith grows.
“I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around,” he declared (vs 6).
David’s situation had not changed, but his faith in God had. He continued to both pray for deliverance and acknowledge God’s power.
Though David had heard the lie that God would not save him, he boldly declared the truth. The psalm concludes with one triumphant line:
“Salvation belongs to the LORD; your blessing be on your people!” (vs 8)
“But I Deserved This”
I don’t know what you’re going through. Your enemy, the one who lies to you, would love to get you to believe that you deserve your circumstance that is hurting you. You deserve the pain; you brought it on yourself. God rescued David, but you messed up too badly for God to rescue you.
I have news for you. David deserved to be running for his life, too. We know of David as “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14) but also as the adulterer who had his love interest’s husband murdered (2 Sam. 12:9). God clearly told David that this situation was a punishment for David’s adulterous sin (2 Sam. 12:10-12).
God is a God of mercy. Yes, He is just—that is why Jesus took your deserved punishment. That is why Jesus can save you! But the same God who delighted in rescuing David even after the king’s despicable sin is the same God who delights to redeem and restore you.
Don’t listen to the enemy’s lies. Tell the enemy Who your God is—and run to Jesus in faith for everything, big or little.
