Psalm 3 is Messianic

Purpose: In this session we will see three points concerning this Psalm’s Messianic character so that we would be at awe with God.

1. The relationship of Psalm 3 with Psalms 1-2 indicate it is Messianic
2. The subscript of Psalm 3 indicate not every son of David is the Messiah
3. Psalm 3:5 predict the Death and Resurrection of the Messianic Son

The relationship of Psalm 3 with Psalm 1-2 indicate it is Messianic

Point: Psalm 3 has a strong continuity with Psalms 2 in terms of vocabulary, themes and other parallels so we expect the Messiah to be the subject of Psalm 2. Moreover Psalm 3’s parallel with Psalm 1 also indicate Psalm 3 is Messianic since Psalm 1 is part of the Torah and Messianic Psalm structure in the Psalms and thus Psalm 3’s continuity with Psalm 1 as a Torah Psalm reinforce the theme of expecting the Messiah.

Parallel 1: God’s Holy mountain[1]

1. ““But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” (Psalm 2:6)
2. “I was crying out to the Lord with my voice, And He answered me from His holy mountain.” (Psalm 3:4)

Parallel 2: God’s enemies are many

1. “Why are the nations restless And the peoples plotting in vain? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers conspire together Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,” (Psalm 2:1-2)
2. “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around.” (Psalm 3:6)

Parallel 3: God’s enemies are defeated[2]

1. “You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.’” (Psalm 2:9)
2. “Kiss the Son, that He not be angry and you perish on the way, For His wrath may be kindled quickly. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” (Psalm 2:12)
3. “Arise, Lord; save me, my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheek;” (Psalm 3:7)

Parallel 4: God’s enemies are quoted[3]

1. “The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers conspire together Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let’s tear their shackles apart And throw their ropes away from us!”” (Psalm 2:2-3)
2. “Many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” (Psalm 3:2)

Parallel 5: Same Hebrew word for Fear[4]

1. “Serve the Lord with reverence And rejoice with trembling.” (Psalm 2:11)
2. “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around.” (Psalm 3:6)

Parallel 6: Same Hebrew word for arise[5]

1. “Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.” (Psalm 1:5)
2. “Lord, how my enemies have increased! Many are rising up against me.” (Psalm 3:1)
3. “Arise, Lord; save me, my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheek;” (Psalm 3:7)

Parallel 7: Same Hebrew word for wicked[6]

1. See Psalm 1:1,5,6.
2. “Arise, Lord; save me, my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheek;” (Psalm 3:7)

Conclusion: Given the continuity between Psalm 2 and 3 what we have here are the dialogue between God the Father and the Messiah in Psalm 2:6-7 and Psalm 3:4-6.[7]

The subscript of Psalm 3 indicate not every son of David is the Messiah

1. Another parallel between Psalm 2 and Psalm 3 is the mention of Son
   1. The subscript above our English Psalm 3:1 is in Hebrew Psalm 3:1 and it states “A Psalm of David, when he fled from his son Absalom.” (Psalm 3 subscript)
   2. This parallel the mention of Son in Psalm 2:7, 11.
2. The subscript of Psalm 3 reveal that the Messianic Son is not to be understood as referring to every son of David.
3. In fact the subscript of Psalm 3 sadly record how David’s son Absalom has joined the rank of those who conspire against God in trying to overthrow God’s chosen king.[8]
4. The theme of conflict faced by God’s appointed Son recall the theme in Genesis 3:15 between the seed of the woman and the seed of Satan.[9]
5. The subscript also importantly addresses how waiting for the Messiah to come means waiting while there are enemies of God in our midst. Whether the first coming or the Second Coming we are waiting patiently but must also beware of God’s enemies at work.

Psalm 3:5 predict the Death and Resurrection of the Messianic Son

1. Psalm 3:5 seems to be the central statement of the chapter; there are 30 words preceding it in verses 2-5 and 27 words following it in verses 7-9.[10]
2. Let’s read the verse: “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.” (Psalm 3:5)
3. The question is what does laying down, sleep and awake mean?
4. Job 14:12 is helpful in answering that question: “So a man lies down and does not rise. Until the heavens no longer exist, He will not awake nor be woken from his sleep.” (Job 14:12)
   1. Job 14:12 is only other place in the Old Testament where all three verb of lay down, sleep, arise appear together.[11]
   2. In the context of Job the verse is talking about death; see Job 14:10 which states “But a man dies and lies prostrate. A person passes away, and where is he?”
5. Other verses on laying down as death: 2 Samuel 7:12, 1 Kings 2:10. [12]
6. The same verb for awake also appear in Daniel 12:2 to refer to the Resurrection: “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.”[13]
7. In light of this, it is marvelous to consider that Psalm 3:5 is predicting the death and resurrection of the Messiah!

[1] Robert Cole, “Psalm 3: The Victory of the Messiah” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 493.

[2] Robert Cole, “Psalm 3: The Victory of the Messiah” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 500.

[3] Robert Cole, “Psalm 3: The Victory of the Messiah” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 496.

[4] Robert Cole, “Psalm 3: The Victory of the Messiah” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 494.

[5] Robert Cole, “Psalm 3: The Victory of the Messiah” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 494.

[6] Robert Cole, “Psalm 3: The Victory of the Messiah” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 494.

[7] Robert Cole, “Psalm 3: The Victory of the Messiah” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 497.

[8] Dale Ralph Davis, The Way of the Righteous In the Muck of Life: Psalm 1-12 (Ross-Shire, UK: Christian Focus Publications, 2010), 40.

[9] O. Palmer Robertson, The Flow of the Psalms (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing), Kindle Location 1162 of 4699.

[10] Robert Cole, “Psalm 3: The Victory of the Messiah” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 498

[11] Robert Cole, “Psalm 3: The Victory of the Messiah” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 499.

[12] Robert Cole, “Psalm 3: The Victory of the Messiah” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 499.

[13] Robert Cole, “Psalm 3: The Victory of the Messiah” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 499.