Psalm 3: Sleep Well, God Will Protect You

God Is Our Refuge and Strength: 150 Devotionals Through the Psalms, by Bill Boekestein and Rob Ventura, Published by The Banner of Truth, October 2026

Sometimes we feel like almost everyone is against us. Often that’s inaccurate. But David isn’t exaggerating: ‘Many are my foes … Many are rising against me … many’ are saying that God cannot save me (1, 2). The superscription reminds us of when Absalom conspired against David his father by stealing the hearts of the men of Israel and declaring himself king (2 Sam. 15:6, 10). In fear of his son’s growing strength David left Jerusalem, ascending ‘the Mount of Olives weeping as he went, barefoot and with his head covered’ (2 Sam. 15:30). In the midst of his shameful flight an enemy mocked and assaulted David, claiming that he was to blame for his evil days (2 Sam. 16:5-8; cf. 12:9-12). The first two verses of David’s poem capture the scene like this: ‘God! Look! Enemies past counting!’^[1]

But David didn’t lose hope. He depicts God as if he were his last friend. David knew he was outmatched by his enemies. God is not. He is a protective shield around his children. Truly ‘many thousands of people’ had surrounded David to kill him (6). But by trusting God, David could lay down and sleep without fear. David wasn’t hypnotized by his enemies’ claim that God had abandoned him; he was looking to the Lord who saves and blesses his people. Life’s circumstances bowed down David’s head. But he turned to God, ‘the lifter of my head’ (3). David had little strength. But he had a voice. So he prayed that God would rise up in power. And he lived as if he were truly beyond the reach of danger.

Psalm 3 is a prayer guide for every troubled believer. We don’t look to Jerusalem, the ‘holy hill’ where the ark of the tabernacle rested in David’s day (4). We look to Jesus, David’s Son who also fled to the Mount of Olives a thousand years later. Not everyone had deserted David. Hundreds remained with him, some who were fiercely loyal (2 Sam. 15:18-21). David had trusted friends and family members (2 Sam. 15:37–16:2). Jesus was truly forsaken and overtaken by agony. One disciple would betray him. All would abandon him (Mark 14:16-50). But he stayed the course. Therefore, he can sympathize with us in our troubles. More than that, Jesus rose up in triumph over his enemies and ours; we have no need to be afraid.

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I love the approach of this wonderful resource by William Boekestein and Rob Ventura: a complete overview of one psalm for each day. It provides nearly half a year’s worth of devotional readings—and then you can start all over again. Immerse your soul in this new work as you read the Psalms each day; it will reshape your worldview and refocus your affections.

—Phil Johnson, Executive Director, Grace to you

[1] Peterson, The Message, Psalm 3:1, 2.