November 6, 2025 - Psalm 3 - "Man of Sorrows"

Psalm 3

"LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about. 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. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah."

“LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me” (v.1). In these words David speaks, yet beyond David we behold Christ, "the Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3). As David fled from Absalom, his own son, so the LORD Jesus was betrayed by one who walked with Him, who lifted up his heel against Him and betrayed Him with a kiss. The enemies were many, and they said, “There is no help for him in God” (v.2). At Calvary they wagged their heads and mocked, “He saved others; himself he cannot save” (Matthew 27:42). Yet in all this, the purpose of God stood firm, for "it pleased the LORD to bruise Him" (Isaiah 53:10). "He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities" (Isaiah 53:5).

“But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head” (v.3). When men looked upon Christ as forsaken, the Father was even then His Shield. Though He bore our sins and appeared stricken, smitten of God, yet He was His Beloved in Whom He was well pleased. The resurrection of Christ was the lifting up of His head. God raised Him from the dead and set Him at His own Right Hand, crowning Him with glory and honor. The Father became His glory, and in Him the glory of all His people is by Him (John 17: 5).

“I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill” (v.4). Here is the voice of Faith (Christ) in the night of sorrow. The Son cried to His Father in the days of His flesh, “with strong crying and tears” (Hebrews 5:7). He was heard in that He feared, not spared from death, but delivered through death. The Father heard Him from His holy hill, and the proof is the empty tomb. He Who lay in the dust of death now lives forevermore, and because He lives, we shall live also (Hebrews 7:25). “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me” (v.5). What a picture of Christ’s death and resurrection! He laid down His life of Himself; no man took it from Him. He slept the sleep of death in the tomb, resting in the covenant promise. On the third day, He awoke, sustained by the Power of God. The LORD raised Him, declaring His satisfaction in the finished work of redemption. In Him, every believer is raised to newness of life (Ephesians 2:6).

“I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about” (v.6). Here is the holy courage of our Redeemer. He set His face like a flint toward Jerusalem. The raging of men and devils could not turn Him aside. Though surrounded by “many bulls of Bashan” (Psalm 22:12), He trusted His Father perfectly. The courage of Christ becomes the confidence of His people; because He feared not, we need not fear.

“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” (v.7). The resurrection was the LORD’s arising. In it He triumphed over all His enemies—sin, Satan, and death. Their teeth are broken; they can no longer devour. “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth” (Romans 8:33).

“Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people” (v.8). All salvation is the LORD’s doing. It is His purpose, His power, His grace from first to last. We contribute nothing; we receive everything. Even repentance, faith, and assurance are His gifts. Christ’s sorrow is not to move our pity but our praise. He bore our sin, conquered our enemies, and now blesses His people from His holy hill.