This supplication to God came from David’s sorrow after his son absalom rebelled against him and got support from alot of people in isreal.
God allowed this to happen as punishment against david for the adultery and consequent murder that he committed in the second boook of Samuel.
Here is Psalm 3 from the New King James Version (NKJV):
Psalm 3
A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son.
1 Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!
Many are they who rise up against me.2 Many are they who say of me,
“There is no help for him in God.” Selah3 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.4 I cried to the Lord with my voice,
And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah5 I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me all around.7 Arise, O Lord;
Save me, O my God!
For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone;
You have broken the teeth of the ungodly.8 Salvation belongs to the Lord.
Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah
Background
Psalm 3 is all about David’s loss and sorrow. When his own son absalom rebelled against him and took over his throne. For more understanding in the second book of Samuel from verse 11, David saw bathsheba another man’s wife whom he converted and had carnal knowledge of her.
When she told him that she was pregnant, he tried to get her husband to go home and be with his wife from the war front but he refused. And since David could not cover up his deeds david had ureah the hittite killed.
He then proceeded to send her husband to the war front where the battle was the hardest and ordered support reduced for him so that he could be killed.
Here is the story behind David’s prayer in Psalm 3, told only through Bible verses from the NKJV, in sequence—from his sin with Bathsheba, to God’s judgment, including the death of his son, the rape of Tamar, and Absalom’s rebellion, which is the immediate context of Psalm 3.
1. David’s Sin with Bathsheba
2 Samuel 11:2–4 (NKJV):
2 Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.
3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”
4 Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her…
2. David Murders Uriah
2 Samuel 11:14–15 (NKJV):
14 In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.”
3. God Sends Nathan and Pronounces Judgment
2 Samuel 12:9–10 (NKJV):
9 Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon.
10 Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.
2 Samuel 12:11–12 (NKJV):
11 Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun.
12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’ ”
4. Death of David’s Son
2 Samuel 12:15, 18–19 (NKJV):
15 Then Nathan departed to his house. And the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and it became ill.
18 Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died.
19 When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead…
5. Amnon Rapes Tamar
2 Samuel 13:14 (NKJV):
14 However, he would not heed her voice; and being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her.
6. Absalom’s Hatred and Murder of Amnon
2 Samuel 13:28–29 (NKJV):
28 Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, “Watch now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine… then kill him; do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant.”
29 So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded…
7. Absalom Rebels Against David
2 Samuel 15:10–14 (NKJV):
10 Then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel… “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’”
13 Now a messenger came to David, saying, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.”
14 So David said to all his servants… “Arise, and let us flee, or we shall not escape from Absalom…”
8. Absalom Sleeps with David’s Concubines (Judgment Fulfilled)
2 Samuel 16:22 (NKJV):
22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the top of the house, and Absalom went in to his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.
9. David Cries Out to God — Psalm 3 (Title and First Verses)
Psalm 3: A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son.
Psalm 3:1–2 (NKJV):
1 Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.
2 Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah
Things to understand from Psalm 3
- The wrath of God upon us as consequences of our actions: As kind as God is his wrath can be all consuming. And we must be careful not to bring down the wrath of God upon our household by our actions or in actions.
- Lack of discipline and self control : David lacked self control and committed evil acts against an innocent man and he suffered dearly for it. He lost 3 sons and his daughter was defiled by her very own brother. Of he had looked away from bathsheba, none of this would have happened.
- Forgiveness and Acceptance : Despite our short comings God is always accessible to us. After david repented and cried to God for help he delivered him and gave him back his kingdom.
- Forgiveness many not prevent consequences of our actions: eventhough God forgave David, he suffered dearly for his actions. So it is always better to lean on the side of righteousness instead of thinking that you can always ask God to forgive you. The consequences of that act may be too severe and change your life forever even if you do get Forgiveness from God.
- Your actions can affect innocent peoaround you : David’s sin made bathsheba loose a son, led to his daughters sorrow and many other events that spiralled out of his control. That action you want to take today may have a long lasting damaging effect on innocent people around you that you can never change.
In conclusion we should stay ways from sin always the effects are never good and its not harmless to is and people around us. However when we are weak and we commit sin, we should ask God for help and truly repent from our sin. May GOd continue to give us the strength to do what is right always.
