Psalm 3:1-8 “A Psalm by David, when he fled from Absalom his son. LORD, how my adversaries have increased! Many are those who rise up against me. Many there are who say of my soul, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah. But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head. I cry to the LORD with my voice, and he answers me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid myself down and slept. I awakened, for the LORD sustains me. I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who have set themselves against me on every side. Arise, LORD! Save me, my God! For you have struck all of my enemies on the cheek bone. You have broken the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the LORD. May your blessing be on your people. Selah.”

The text in bold is considered the superscription. The superscription is not counted as one of the verses and gives details about the setting, author, and nature of the Psalm. While some argue about their authenticity, the superscriptions are a part of every Hebrew manuscript of the Bible that we have, and I believe that they should be considered original.

The superscription here gives us some context to the Psalm. Absalom wants to take over the kingdom, and he has help (2 Samuel 15-18). David is fleeing, and some take that to mean that God has forsaken him. In the midst of this, David continues to express faith and trust in God. He cries out to God in his trouble because he trusts that God hears him, sustains him, and will save him.

Do you understand that salvation can only be found in God? When you cry out to Him is it because you have a personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ? Do you trust that He is with you? That He sustains you? That He can save you? While we understand that he can save us in this life and sometimes does, our greatest joy comes from knowing that death, hell, Satan, and the grave have already been defeated!

For additional worship: “A Morning Psalm” by Isaac Watts

O Lord, how many are my foes,
In this weak state of flesh and blood!
My peace they daily discompose,
But my defence and hope is God.

Tired with the burdens of the day,
To thee I raised an evening cry:
Thou heard’st when I began to pray,
And thine almighty help was nigh.

Supported by thine heav’nly aid,
I laid me down, and slept secure:
Not death should make my heart afraid,
Though I should wake and rise no more.

But God sustained me all the night:
Salvation doth to God belong;
He raised my head to see the light,
And make his praise my morning song.

Note: While the exact meaning of Selah is unknown, it is believed to denote a pause, silence, or an interlude in the Psalm.