Remember when one of David's sons raped his own sister, well Absalom took two years before he took action against that evil. Absalom was noted for his indecision on matters.

Psalms 3:1 "Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me."

David is asking, how is this that these people have gotten the upper hand on me? As David was fleeing from before Absalom and his army, it seemed that many were rising up against me. This story of David fleeing Absalom is recorded in II Samuel chapter 16-18.

Psalms 3:2 "Many there be which say of my soul, "There is no help for him in God." Selah."

"Selah" means to stop and ponder or meditate on what has just been said. Get your thoughts in order. This is to tie the thought that has just been given, to the thoughts that are to follow. The writer is telling us to wake up and pay special attention. Though this connects David, the man that knows his creator to the covenant God that shall provide and prepare the help for this man David. There is a covenant relationship here between God and David. There is more to God than just being our creator, for He is a provider also. God has made a contract with David because David has been chosen to do something for God. We have a contract with God also, when we are one of God's chosen. The scoffers have already said, "he can not get any help from God", but David knows he has a promise from God, a covenant, a contract from God that He should always help him. Do you understand what this means? So make the pause, bring these things to your mind, and get ready for the verses to follow.

Psalms 3:3 "But Thou, O Lord, Art a shield for me; My glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

Do you know what a shield is and what it is used for? The shield is your defense. It stops those arrows and weapons that would be used against you. This is a promise to you also when you are one of His. "But Thou are a shield for me"; He is the "lifter up on mine head." When those times of depression come on you, it is God that will lift up your head and let you stand proud to serve Him. When you become a child of God, you have a contract with Father to protect you, and lift up your head. David said, "you are my Father; you are the one that lifts me up when I am down". You protect me as my shield when the arrows of Satan and his realm come against me.

Psalms 3:4 "I cried unto the Lord with my voice, And He heard me out of His holy hill. Selah"

When I cried out to the Lord, He heard me out of His holy mountain. I was in trouble and my Lord came to my side. "Selah" [sharpen up, and pay attention]. There is going to be a connection between what has just been said, and what will follow. So the thing that will be connected will be the prayer that asks for the peace and protection, with the peace and protection that follows. This chapter then proves that peace does follow that comes from earnest prayer to God.

Psalms 3:5 "I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me."

After the prayer, David laid down a slept, he had peace of mind. David knew that God would take care of him and be his shield. You don't have to lay awake at night to worry, when you have left it all in the hands of the Lord. God gives us the promises and assurance that he will provide and be our shield. God sustained David, and David knew He would because he believed in that covenant contract that God made with him.

Psalms 3:6 "I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, That have set themselves against me round about."

Do you understand the surety that we can have by believing our Father's promises, and resting in His peace. Simply by knowing the truths and promises that He has given us, gives us peace of mind. When you understand the way God's word is written, you have a sure foundation to build upon. It doesn't matter what or how many people plot against you, for you can count on God's protection when you seek and teach God's Word.

Psalms 3:7 "Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: For Thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; Thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly."

When God smites your enemies, it hurts them like a slap across the cheek bone. When you have broken their teeth, you have take away the ability to chew, and absorb food. You have made them harmless against you.

Psalms 3:8 "Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: Thy blessing is upon Thy People. Selah." [to the chief Musician on Neginoth.]

You will not find Salvation in any other place other than from the Lord. Just as God's blessings were upon David, so also are those blessings upon all of God's people. Stop and pause for a moment, for there is a connecting thought between chapters three and four. The subject is the same in both chapters.