What does Psalms Chapter 3 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The superscription names David fleeing his son Absalom and the prayer describes multiplying adversaries. David calls the Lord protector and reports a heard cry, sleep, rest and rising. He refuses fear of thousands, asks salvation and speaks of struck adversaries and blessing.

Chapter breakdown

The Latin incipit is Domine, quid multiplicati. The superscription calls this David's psalm when he fled from his son Absalom. The separate edition heading describes danger and delivery and gives a mystical interpretation as Christ's passion and resurrection.

In the psalmist’s speech, David asks the Lord why those afflicting him are multiplied, with many rising against him. Many tell his soul there is no salvation for him in his God. He calls the Lord his protector, glory and lifter of his head, and reports having cried aloud and been heard from His holy hill. He says he slept, rested and rose because the Lord protected him; the text supplies no campsite or clinical explanation of his sleep.

In the psalmist’s speech, he says he will not fear thousands surrounding him and calls upon the Lord to arise and save him. He says God has struck his adversaries without cause and broken sinners' teeth. He concludes that salvation is of the Lord and His blessing upon His people. These are David's prayer and attributed reports, without details of troops, a loyal remnant or the later outcome of Absalom's conflict.

The story inside

Opening: The superscription names David fleeing his son Absalom and the prayer describes multiplying adversaries. Development: David calls the Lord protector and reports a heard cry, sleep, rest and rising. Conclusion: He refuses fear of thousands, asks salvation and speaks of struck adversaries and blessing.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The superscription names David fleeing his son Absalom and the prayer describes multiplying adversaries.
2
David calls the Lord protector and reports a heard cry, sleep, rest and rising.
3
He refuses fear of thousands, asks salvation and speaks of struck adversaries and blessing.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 57894–57900
3:1. The psalm of David when he fled from the face of his son Absalom. 3:2. Why, O Lord, are they multipied that afflict me? many are they who rise up against me. 3:3. Many say to my soul: There is no salvation for him in his God.
Lines 57901–57905
3:4. But thou, O Lord, art my protector, my glory, and the lifter up of my head. 3:5. I have cried to the Lord with my voice: and he hath heard me from his holy hill.
Lines 57907–57911
3:6. I have slept and have taken my rest: and I have risen up, because the Lord hath protected me. 3:7. I will not fear thousands of the people surrounding me: arise, O Lord; save me, O my God.
Lines 57913–57916
3:8. For thou hast struck all them who are my adversaries without cause: thou hast broken the teeth of sinners. 3:9. Salvation is of the Lord: and thy blessing is upon thy people.