Psalm 3:8 ESV
Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! Selah Psalm 3:8 ESV https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.3.8.ESV
This is a Psalm of an old King David. Notice the title of the Psalm: Morning Prayer of Trust in God. A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
Jesus as the King of Kings and as the Son of David
Many find this a hard Psalm because of the graphic acknowledgement of God’s retribution particularly in verse 7, “For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek; You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.” (not always translated in the past tense).
But history shows us even though David might have penned these words when his own son, Absalom, was threatening to kill him and take over the kingdom and Absalom publicly raped the women of King David’s court, David only appeared concerned with the salvation of his son/enemy, Absalom. (2 Samuel 19:1-8 )
It is the last verse that shows us the concern of the King is for His people and the nation He leads as a representative of God.
Jesus is a king being killed and while he is being crucified; he says, Father, forgive them (Luke 23:34). Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:19 , 1 Samuel 26:10-11
Salvation belongs to the Lord; Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah.
Psalm 3:8
Main Point: Jesus and David show us that when we are attacked, it is an attack on God. So we appeal to God and trust God’s justice and salvation for us and His people.
- 1.God’s servant will have enemies, as a representative of God you can expect opposition.
- 2.God’s servant knows God is with him and God is greater than his enemies.
- 3.God’s servant puts all his problems in the context of God’s power and purposes.
vv 8 Salvation belongs to the Lord; Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah. (Luke 22:42)
I want to add to my brief lesson plan for Psalm 3 today a few extra comments.
In my hope to show the connections I see between David and Jesus I have put more contextual cross references as well as more general cross references to new testament support for the interpretations I'm suggesting. I am striving to limit these cross references. I am also therefore proposing to make a case for this theological standpoint of finding Jesus in all the scripture or the drawing lines of connection directly between David and Jesus. I am writing these lessons for my heart. I am already convinced so I don't need much explanation or proof. I am bring you along on my journey of discovery of Jesus in the Psalms. I don't expect you will see things the way I see them nor am I trying to convince you. You are looking over my shoulder as I make these observations and speak to my own heart. May God direct you as you seek him.
I already believe that Jesus Christ is the perfect sinless Son of God.
I already believe Jesus is the messiah, the suffering servant, the Son of David and the son of man.
Jesus is the second Adam and thus the obedient perfect prototype human. Jesus is the perfect promised son of Abraham. Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Jesus is the Word of God.
Jesus is the nation of Israel wrapped up in one, He is the City of Jerusalem, and the Holy Mountain of God, and He is the Temple.
As a condemned, crucified, judged, shamed dead atonement sacrifice Jesus is our (and all of humanities) substitution. Thus He is treated as a sinner, He is punished and He bore the wrath of God. So in this way Jesus is also the worst human, the vilest of humanity and the sum total of all that is wrong with us. And even though he was tempted and without sin, He who knew no sin became sin for us. (2 Corinthians 5:21 ). So in this way I can easily see Jesus in all the scripture.
Further I see Jesus as the creator of all things and see all things being created for Him. I see Jesus as a complete revelation of the Father and a perfect representation of God. So Jesus can be the judge and the judged.
When I was reflecting on this Psalm and your commentary, it occurred to me that Absalom may have been trying to enforce some kind of justice following David’s lack of action when her daughter, Absalon’s sister, was abused at the hands of Ammon his brother. This kind of ‘honour’ revenge may have been the reason why Absalon gained the support of the people to kill David and take his throne. David was wise in concluding that salvation belongs to the Lord.
ReplyDeleteThere are many parallels here with Jesus as he always fell out with the religious leaders for not condemning sinners.
This Psalm is another layer of spiritual truth revealed through David.