Praying Psalm 3

 “Confident Salvation”

Can we learn a better way to pray?

Read “Learning to pray in the name of Jesus.” By Bonhoeffer. YES! When Jesus takes us along with him in prayer (The Lord's Prayer) we pray rightly. All prayers are summed up in the words of the Lord's Prayer. When we pray in the name of Jesus, we pray His words to God.

What is the title of this Psalm 3?
A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

This is actually the 1^st verse in the Hebrew: What is the history behind it?

2 Samuel 14-16: killed Amon. Absalom was exiled & came back 14:33. He won the hearts of the Israelistes during David's rule 15:4-6. Tried to kill King David 15:13-14.

Read Psalm 3:1-2

¹O YHWH, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
²many are saying of my soul/body/ nephesh, there is no salvation for him in God. Selah

Why might David be afraid?

(1)The many.There are alot of people against him!
(2)People say, "No salvation in God!" There's no hope? That's scary. Maybe David’s doing the wrong thing –Maybe God won’t come...
* In v.2 "nephesh" means BODY & SOUL. These are not separate ideas. David's concern is for BOTH his physical body and the deliverance of his soul.
* "Selah" divides this Psalm into stanzas. Although the literal meaning in Hebrew is unclear, it's commonly understood as a musical notation for the chior/ musician.

Read Psalm 3:3-4

³But you, O YHWH, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
⁴I cried aloud to the YHWH, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

What does YHWH do?

(3)Shield, lifts head - notice this is GOD's work. (It's NOT David picking up his own bootstraps.)

(4) He Answers crys. God hears, God answers.
*His Holy Hill is an interesting place from which He answers. It sounds more like manifest action rather that ONLY a physical place. (Remember Psalm 2 where he installed his king? Action from His Holy Hill.) This is YHWH. His name is a verb, he defines himself by the WORK He has done for His people. He even shows up as Christ who IS the "Kingdom of God" or "Active rule and reign of God".

Read Psalm 3:5-6

⁵I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the YHWH sustained me.
⁶I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around (a circle).

Why is David NOT afraid?

YHWH sustains.YHWH gives confidence. David's situation among enemies did not change. God did not zap all the bad guys away. David has this confidence in the middle of an impossible situation.

Read Psalm 3:7-8

⁷ Arise, O YHWH! Save me (v.2), O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.

⁸ Salvation (v.2&7) belongs to (is to) YHWH; your blessing be on your people! Selah

How does David pray to God?

He calls on God to "Arise!" DO IT! Act! DO what you are – salvation.

David knows what YHWH is  = Active Salvation. This is the SAME root word in v.2, v.7, and v.8

David trusts God will save – these blessings go to his people.

* Interestingly, the Hebrew word for salvation is  "ye-shu-ah"  = Joshua. THIS is the name given to the Christ baby, our SALVATION, "Jesus". Gods action IS Jesus! The blessings of Jesus' salvation are ON HIS PEOPLE (we are saved)!!

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

What is the purpose of this Psalm and prayer?

The audience is reminded where to trust = YHWH and HIS action.

Also, it is a Call on God to act, or to save.

How did Christ pray this prayer to His Father?

Lots of answers can be great examples. Jesus constantly hopes and trust in His Father. He goes through the passion as one surrounded by enemies. His life, death and ressurection IS the action of God, the salvation that God's people long for.

(Example: John 17 – Jesus has trust in the salvation of God – God's blessings will be on the followers of Jesus.)

Then, how do we pray to God?

Trust in GOD to save – DO NOT trust in a better ME to save myself…
God does what he says. Call on YHWH and hold Him to His promises!
We are comforted in the middle of enemies and hardship, because God is strong. He acts for our deliverance in Jesus. (Body and soul, remember?)

PRAY:

What does God say? The Second Commandment. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain.
What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.

What do you believe?  Redemption.
I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

What does this mean?I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won [delivered] me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, in order that I may be [wholly] His own, and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, even as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.

What do you pray? The Seventh Petition. But deliver us from evil.
What does this mean?We pray in this petition, as in a summary, that our Father in heaven would deliver us from all manner of evil, of body and soul, property and honor, and at last, when our last hour shall come, grant us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this vale of tears to Himself into heaven.