Psalms 3

Wesley opens the psalm as David’s complaint of enemies who have increased and risen against him—Absalom’s revolt in view.

The cry is honest prayer, not theatrical despair. Multiplied foes are no illusion; the next verses will answer with trust. Shared piety—bring the count of enemies to the LORD rather than nurse them alone.

Calvin: David was nearly as many enemies as subjects; sudden rebellion affrighted him. It was uncommon faith, when so smitten, to pour out his soul to God. The only remedy for fear is to cast cares upon him.

Complaint that still prays. Consternation does not nullify address to God; those who think themselves disregarded are the ones overwhelmed.

Wesley: My soul—of me; the soul put for the person. In God—God hath utterly forsaken him. Selah marks a remarkable passage and quickens attention.

The taunt is blasphemous counsel—deny hope in God and the soul is pierced. Shared confession—the lie must not be believed. Keep praying for salvation when many say there is none.

Calvin: enemies deride him as a castaway past hope; their boldness grew because they thought God had rejected him. Absalom hoped from his own power, disregarding God. Though the whole world drive us to despair, give ear to God alone and cherish the hope of the salvation he has promised.

The mockery wounds the soul. Ungodliness treats God’s favor as worthless; faith answers by defending the soul in prayer.

Wesley: A shield—my defence. My glory—thou hast formerly given, and wilt farther give occasion of glorying in thy power and favour. Lifter up—thou wilt restore me to my former power and dignity.

Against the taunt of v. 2 stands a living “but you.” Shield, glory, and lifted head name grace received and still to be sought—defence now, restoration expected. Trust answers the many who deny salvation in God.

Calvin: but—confidence against scoffings. Having mourned sin and obtained mercy, David keeps his eye on the cause: enemies wage ungodly war against a lawful king. God is shield (defence by his power), glory (maintainer of the royal dignity he conferred), and lifter of the head—so he walks with unabashed brow.

The LORD himself is shield and glory. Assurance rests on God’s choice and promise that foes cannot cancel, not on counting friends in the wilderness.

Wesley: His hill—out of heaven, so called (Ps 15:1).

Shared pattern—cry aloud, and God answers. Voice prayer meets the tumult of foes. The answer from the holy hill confirms that the shield of v. 3 is not theory; keep crying when enemies say there is no salvation.

Calvin: never so broken as to stop praying—an infallible proof of faith. He cried with his voice against blasphemies that would silence him, and was heard from the holy hill—Mount Zion and the ark, not a vague sky. Even far from the ark in flight, God was near to hear.

Both note: Answered prayer. Faith speaks aloud toward the place God appointed; the answer proves the cry was not empty air.

Wesley: Slept—securely, casting all my cares upon God. Awaked—after a sweet and undisturbed sleep.

Sleep here is practiced trust—cares cast, then rest. Shared comfort—the LORD sustains through the night. Fear does not get the last word when the sleeper entrusts himself and rises again.

Calvin: wonderful steadfastness—he slept amid many deaths as if beyond danger. Anxiety’s waves were allayed by faith so he reposed in God. This rest came from God’s protection, not stupidity; the wicked sleep by intoxication, but David because upheld by God’s power.

Sleep and waking under the LORD. The ground of quiet is that God sustains; the godly prove victorious over fears because they rely on him.

Wesley’s notes leave the verse to stand with the sustaining of v. 5: fear yields when God has kept through the night.

Shared courage—“I will not be afraid” is a resolve fed by prior help. Thousands may encircle; the sustained sleeper answers with refusal of panic. Courage is grace-enabled and still chosen against the ring of foes.

Calvin: he enlarges the efficacy of confidence all the godly taste from experience of divine protection. God’s power is infinite and invincible against the forces of the whole world. Measure God’s help not by human scale; despise terrors that stand in the way.

He is not afraid of the thousands arrayed against him. Courage fails unless this honor is ascribed to God; human arrays are little against him.

Wesley: Cheek bone—contempt and reproach. Teeth—their strength and the instruments of their cruelty; he compares them to wild beasts.

Both traditions share the plea, “Arise, LORD! Save me.” The God who sustains also strikes the wicked’s power. Prayer for salvation is not cancelled by prior sleep; keep asking while enemies still bite.

Calvin: after confidence he returns to prayer—save me, for peril remains. Smiting the cheek and breaking teeth he takes as thanksgiving for help already given, recognizing God as author of deliverance.

Petition and praise sit side by side. God shames and disarms the wicked; the servant both pleads and thanks for strikes already dealt.

Wesley closes with the confession: salvation belongeth unto the LORD; thy blessing is upon thy people.

Shared doxology—salvation is God’s, not the crowd’s verdict. Those who cried and slept under his hand confess where help truly lies. Blessing on the people widens David’s rescue into care for the flock; hearers still look to the LORD alone for salvation.

Calvin: salvation or deliverance is only in God’s hands—praise claimed for him alone against all human succor. A thousand deaths cannot render him unable to save. This was for the whole Church, whose welfare hung on the king’s safety; God will never withdraw grace and blessing from her.

Salvation belongs to the LORD. The Church’s deliverance is secured by the God who saves without effort and keeps his blessing on his people.