Psa 3-7 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Ps 3:1-7:17: Pss 3–7 This group of psalms moves readers from the orderly world of Pss 1–2 to a disoriented one. The Lord’s anointed cries out while facing enemies, ferocious opposition, evil schemes, and the Lord’s apparent distance. Summary for Ps 3:1-8: Ps 3 This psalm laments that the expectations raised by Pss 1–2 have not been met. But even when beset by enemies, godly people need not question the Lord’s just dealings. Rather, they can confidently trust his goodness and expect God to rescue them. 3:title This sad episode in David’s life (see 2 Sam 15–18 ) helps readers keep the promises of Ps 2 in perspective. The Lord granted victory to his anointed king (Ps 2 ), but the manner and timing of this victory remained in God’s hands. Summary for Ps 3:1-2: 3:1-2 The psalmist’s many enemies speak brashly (4:6 ; 12:4 ; 40:15 ) and question the Lord’s ability to rescue (10:11 ; 22:7-8 ; 71:10 ). Their words haunt him because it seems that the Lord will not answer his prayer. • These enemies wield great power (cp. 2:1-3 ); unlike Ps 2 , this psalm does not resolve the crisis.

Summary for Ps 3:1-7:17: Pss 3–7 ^a This group of psalms moves readers from the orderly world of Pss 1–2 ^b to a disoriented one. The Lord’s anointed cries out while facing enemies, ferocious opposition, evil schemes, and the Lord’s apparent distance.
Summary for Ps 3:1-8: Ps 3 ^c This psalm laments that the expectations raised by Pss 1–2 ^d have not been met. But even when beset by enemies, godly people need not question the Lord’s just dealings. Rather, they can confidently trust his goodness and expect God to rescue them. 3:title ^e This sad episode in David’s life (see 2 Sam 15–18 ^f) helps readers keep the promises of Ps 2 ^g in perspective. The Lord granted victory to his anointed king (Ps 2 ^h), but the manner and timing of this victory remained in God’s hands.
Summary for Ps 3:1-2: 3:1-2 ⁱ The psalmist’s many enemies speak brashly (4:6 ^j; 12:4 ^k; 40:15 ^l) and question the Lord’s ability to rescue (10:11 ^m; 22:7-8 ⁿ; 71:10 ^o). Their words haunt him because it seems that the Lord will not answer his prayer.

• These enemies wield great power (cp. 2:1-3 ^p); unlike Ps 2 ^q, this psalm does not resolve the crisis.
Summary for Ps 3:3-4: 3:3-4 ^r The psalmist’s eyes turn from his enemies to the Lord. 3:3 ^s The psalmist contrasts the contention of his enemies (3:2 ^t) with the Lord’s provision. The Lord is a shield for his people; he turns their defeat and shame into victory and glory.
3:5 ^u By refocusing on the Lord (3:3-4 ^v) in the midst of his crisis, the psalmist can rest, confident of his safety (see study note on 4:8). The Lord cares for his servant; he protects him and keeps his mind and heart from fear (37:17 ^w; 54:4 ^x; 119:116 ^y; 145:14 ^z).
3:6 ^aa The psalmist’s peaceful confidence in the Lord’s protection and care shields him from evil and gives him a new sense of reality (23:4 ^ab; 27:1 ^ac, 3 ^ad; 46:1 ^ae; 56:4 ^af, 11 ^ag; 91:5-6 ^ah; 118:6 ^ai).
Summary for Ps 3:7-8: 3:7-8 ^aj The psalmist does not seek revenge; instead, he waits for the Lord’s vengeance.

• Arise: The psalmist calls upon the Lord to take action now.

‏ Psalms 4

Summary for Ps 4:1-8: Ps 4 ^ak This individual lament includes a prayer for rescue (4:1 ^al), a rebuke of the adversary (4:2-3 ^am), an exhortation to the godly (4:4-5 ^an), and an expression of confidence (4:6-8 ^ao). 4:1 ^ap Waiting for the Lord’s answer allows for growth in patience and for the refinement of living faith (38:15 ^aq).
4:2 ^ar The opponents of the godly place their hope in delusions, treachery, and idolatry.

• my reputation (or my glory): The honor of the psalmist, or possibly of the Lord, is at stake.
4:4 ^as Angry feelings are not sinful, but letting anger control you leads to sin (see 37:7-8 ^at; cp. Eph 4:26-27 ^au, 31-32 ^av).

• Instead of acting on their emotions, the godly think about their circumstances overnight. They might be disturbed as they sleep, but silence opens their hearts to trust in the Lord (Ps 4:5 ^aw).
4:5 ^ax Offer sacrifices in the right spirit: Redirecting emotions toward the Lord prevents a godly individual from doing too much self-reflection (40:6-8 ^ay; 51:17 ^az).
4:6 ^ba your face (or the light of your face): The psalmist seeks God’s favor and peace (Num 6:25-26 ^bb), which can transform darkness into light (see Ps 27:1 ^bc). Confident trust in the Lord is an antidote to anger, resentment, jealousy, and materialism.
4:8 ^bd Peace comes from God’s blessing and protection (4:6 ^be; see 37:11 ^bf).

‏ Psalms 5

Summary for Ps 5:1-12: Ps 5 ^bg This morning prayer (5:3 ^bh) expresses unwavering confidence in the Lord’s help and protection. The psalmist asks for and awaits God’s response (5:1-3 ^bi). He describes the schemes of the wicked in detail but does not get lost in his circumstances. The psalmist also knows that the wicked cannot coexist with God (5:4-6 ^bj, 9 ^bk; see 1:5 ^bl). He keeps returning to the Lord (5:7-8 ^bm, 10 ^bn; see 5:1-3 ^bo), and then he prays for the godly community (5:10-12 ^bp; see 3:8 ^bq).
Summary for Ps 5:1-2: 5:1-2 ^br The request hear me appears in several prayers as a call for God’s attention during a time of trouble (39:12 ^bs; 84:8 ^bt; 143:1 ^bu), as does pay attention (17:1 ^bv; 54:2 ^bw; 130:2 ^bx). The needy ask their God, “Are you listening?”
5:3 ^by The psalmist begins and ends each day with prayer, awaiting new expressions of God’s fidelity and goodness (143:8 ^bz).

• wait expectantly: The psalmist does not demand God’s grace but places hope in it (see Mic 7:7 ^ca; Hab 2:1 ^cb).
5:5 ^cc the proud: Mockers (see study note on 1:1), the wicked (73:3 ^cd; 75:4 ^ce), and the arrogant (10:2 ^cf) use their mouths to twist truth and challenge the faith of the godly.

• The Lord allows only the godly into his presence (see 1:5 ^cg). His holiness and justice do not tolerate oppression or those who do evil.

• you hate: The Lord rejects proud sinners (see also 11:5 ^ch).
5:7 ^ci God promises his unfailing love—his covenant goodness and faithfulness—to his people (see 25:6 ^cj; 69:16 ^ck; Lam 3:32 ^cl).

• your house: The godly long to come into God’s presence with reverence and awe (see Heb 12:28 ^cm).
5:8 ^cn God guides those who are obedient, submissive, and patient in waiting for him to lead, provide, and protect them (27:11 ^co; 43:3 ^cp; 143:10 ^cq), not those who expect God simply to endorse their own decisions.

• Following the right path of wisdom leads to the Lord (27:11 ^cr; 61:2 ^cs; 139:24 ^ct).
Summary for Ps 5:9-10: 5:9-10 ^cu The psalmist again describes the vile acts of the wicked, who cannot stand in God’s presence.
5:10 ^cv The psalmist prays for the justice and retribution that God promised against the wicked (1:6 ^cw)—those who have rebelled against the Lord.

• The wicked lay traps to kill (38:12 ^cx) or deceive (140:4-5 ^cy).
5:11 ^cz A blessing rests on all who take refuge in God (see 18:30 ^da).

• Joy and praise make good companions. The godly rejoice when they see evidence of God’s rescue. They sing joyful praises as a new song (see 33:3 ^db). When the Lord restores peace to this world, puts down evil, and rewards the righteous, they will have lasting joy (9:2-4 ^dc; 53:6 ^dd; 90:14-15 ^de; 118:24 ^df).

• The children of God, who find refuge in him, love his name. To love his name is to love his very character.
5:12 ^dg The psalmist extends his concern beyond himself to all the godly.

• A shield, here an image of God’s protection, deflects spears and arrows from its bearer.

‏ Psalms 6

Summary for Ps 6:1-10: Ps 6 ^dh The occasion for this lament might have been sickness or a mental or spiritual depression from which the psalmist sought healing.
Summary for Ps 6:1-3: 6:1-3 ^di The psalmist asks for God’s favor and restoration at a difficult time. 6:1 ^dj don’t rebuke me ... or discipline me: The psalmist does not explicitly connect God’s discipline with sin here (cp. 39:8-11 ^dk), but it might be implied.
Summary for Ps 6:2-3: 6:2-3 ^dl In his longing for God’s response to his prayer, the psalmist grew physically weak (6:6 ^dm; see 77:3 ^dn; 119:81 ^do; 142:1-3 ^dp; see also Ps 101 ^dq). Fasting might have played a part in his agony, but this is not mentioned.
Summary for Ps 6:4-5: 6:4-5 ^dr The experience was so painful that the psalmist might as well have been dead, or perhaps he feared for his life.
6:5 ^ds from the grave? Hebrew from Sheol? In the Old Testament, Sheol is the abode of the dead. It is not necessarily associated with punishment.
Summary for Ps 6:6-7: 6:6-7 ^dt The psalmist is exhausted to the depths of his being from the anguish of his spiritual distance from the Lord (22:1 ^du; 31:9-10 ^dv; 102:5 ^dw).

• When eyes dim, the body is failing (see 13:3 ^dx; 31:9 ^dy; 38:10 ^dz; Matt 6:22 ^ea).
Summary for Ps 6:8-10: 6:8-10 ^eb In a closing note of triumph, the psalmist reasserts his confidence in the Lord.

‏ Psalms 7

Summary for Ps 7:1-17: Ps 7 ^ec This psalm consists of a lament (7:1-2 ^ed), an oath of innocence (7:3-5 ^ee), an appeal to God’s justice (7:6-9 ^ef), an affirmation of God’s just kingship (7:10-16 ^eg), and a concluding hymn of praise (7:17 ^eh).
7:title ^ei Cush, an unknown person of the tribe of Benjamin, remained hostile to David.
7:1 ^ej Persecutors (a common term for “enemies”) intentionally seek out people in order to destroy them (31:15 ^ek; 56:1-2 ^el; 71:11 ^em; 143:3 ^en).