(A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.)   "LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me."  Psalm 3:1

In the "superscript" (written above and just before verse 1 begins) we have two names.  "David" means "beloved."  And "Absalom" means "My Father is peace." David lived up to the meaning of his name (maybe a little too much)!  But Absalom did not!  (Find out what YOUR name means ... put a good spiritual emphasis on it ... and live up to the meaning of your very name to the glory of God!  Some names have to be "reversed" to be applicable.)

David could literally think of God and commune with God and worship God EVEN while running for his life!  What a lesson for us all!

The verb "trouble" is a Hebrew word ("tzsar") that means to cramp, to constrict or put in a narrow place!  (Pressure squeezing in from all sides!)  Talk about claustrophobia!

At the time of verse one Absalom's rebellion and attempt to kill his father has reached its peak!  This is the worst of David's danger ... and he's still talking with God!  The verb "increased" means to become many or to become great.  It's a perfect Qal verb.  The "increasing" of David's enemies is complete now.  A great CROWD is against him!  (Enter Paul:  "If God be for us, who can be against us?"  Romans 8:31)

"Many" ("rab" in Hebrew) not only suggest a great number ... but CHIEF people as well.  Some of David's closest allies have betrayed him!

The verb "rise up" is a Qal participle meaning that the uprising (while having reached its numerical peak) is still ongoing!  They are plotting David's death at the very moment he is writing this hymn of praise!  (I am amazed at how the truly godly man or woman can remain un-detracted when it comes to worshiping God!)  A writer yesterday reminded me that Paul wrote the GREAT Epistle of Romans (his "magnus opus" I believe) while raising a love offering for the suffering saints at Jerusalem! Wow!

"Against" is the Hebrew preposition "al," which means usually over or above!  It can certainly at times mean "against," as it does here.  The "context" must determine some meanings!  But ... look at this.  David's ememies are "al" against Him.  BUT SOMEONE ELSE IS ("al") OVER OR ABOVE HIM ... HIS ALMIGHTY GOD! (Whatever your enemies are against you ... your God is greater for you!)  Praise His Name!

David is here in verse one just telling God all his troubles!  Is that Scriptural?  Let Peter answer.  "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5:7) Or let Jesus Himself tell you:  "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."  (Matthew 11:28)   Or another Psalmist might be of aid now:  "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."  (Psalm 46:1)

I so admire King David here.  He was truly a man after God's Own Heart!  (Acts 13:22)  Isn't it thrilling that one's person's faith can encourage another person as well?  Listen to Paul:  "We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly ...."  (2 Thessalonians 1:3)  See! The faith of the Thessalonians had Paul excited and thankful and encouraged!

Lord willing, more tomorrow! 

Ponder this verse today.  It will help you.

Solely because it is the living Word of God!

                                                                           --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

PSALM 3, VERSE 2...

(This is the third study in a series from Psalm 3.  It was posted here on Saturday morning, February 28, 2004 at 10:00 AM)

 "Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah."    Psalm 3:2

David has heard what folks are saying about him!  The news is not good!  In fact I can give you an exact quote from this time in his life:  "And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:  The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man."  2 Samuel 16:7-8

The noun "help" here is very interesting!  It's the Hebrew word "Yeshuah," and means salvation!  It's the Old Testament name Joshua ... and the equivalent of the New Testament name Jesus!  (One who saves!)  The crowds are saying that there is NO WAY God is helping David!

This is amazingly close to a cry like this"  "My God!  My God!  Why hast Thou forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46   (Remember a time when the greater Son of David ... Jesus ... left Jerusalem, crossed the brook and prayed in Gethsemane?)

The Name for God here is Elohim, implying the Triune Godhead!  (They are saying ... if put into New Testament terms ... that God the Father and Son and Holy Spirit has forsaken David in his trials!)

This verse would have been a "sore stab" indeed to the man of God David! 

What then does David do?

He turns the words of his enemies into prayers!

He "brings his burdens to the Lord" and leaves them there!

That is exactly what Hezekiah did when attacked by the Assyrians too!  Look at Isaiah 37:14-15. "And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.  And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying ...."

We should do the same.

By the way, the enemies say: "No salvation for David!"  BUT God said to David in Psalm 35:3:  "I am thy Salvation!"  (Whole verse:  "Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.")

In our verse today folks are putting the worst possible "spin" on David's troubles! God is AGAINST him, they yelled.  (Job's "friends" did the same for him you will remember.)

In reality, God had not forsaken David at all.  In fact, it appears that God was chastening David for past sins (Bathsheba)!  That's far from being forsaken.  In Paul's terminology that is proof that David is the Lord's!  (Hebrews 12:6 --- "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.")

The verse implies that they said:  "Even God can't help him now!"  Well, they sure did not know our God! 

Our verse ends with a "selah," one of three in this short little Psalm.  We will talk more about the word at the other verses in which it occurs ... but let's at least give the basic definition now.  It is believed to mean:  pause and think!  It possibly could be a musical rest of some kind.  BUT for sure the Holy Spirit places it at critical junctures in Scripture to remind us that something very important has just been said and deserves our undivided attention!  Attention:  God will NEVER leave you!

We have just learned today one of the devils strongest tactics in discouraging a believer.  That is: the attempt to get the Christian to doubt the presence and help of Almighty God!

Jesus says in Matthew 28:20 --- "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

May the Lord bless you as you continue studying His Word.

                                                                                  --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

PSALM 3, VERSE 3 ...

This is a fourth study in a series from Psalm 3.  All the materials are still here for your study purposes.  Just scroll down the Page.  (Today's lesson was posted Sunday, February 29, 2004 at 9:15 AM.)

"But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head."     (Psalm 3:3)

I have looked forward to this verse for a while.  David, in all his troubles, still has time to worship the Lord!  He extols Him magnificently!

He calls Jehovah his "Shield!"  The word "magen" is a Hebrew term signifying a small hand held "buckler" or defensive weapon designed to ward off enemy missiles. (Buckler is from a French word that just means "shield" anyway.)

The Hebrew word comes from a verb that means to "hedge around" or to protect! Those hand held shields were often round ... and David sees God's Presence round about him ... so God is his Shield!  (Psalm 47:9 says:  " ... for the shields of the earth belong unto God: He is greatly exalted.")  Wow!

David further calls God his "Glory!"  ("kabod")  The word literally means WEIGHT. (Something HEAVY!)  David (at least grammatically) is saying the the Lord carries more weight with him than anything or anyone else!  Also the word Glory is apparently the indicator for all the Essence of God!  ("Essence" is a noun that comes from a Latin verb "esse" meaning "to be."  Glory is a summary term for all  God is! He is a God of Glory!  All His manifold attributes equal His Glory!)

What is a "lifter up?"  It is one who ("rum" in Hebrew) brings up, holds up, promotes, etc.!  See the picture?  When my head is low due to pressures and trials and even dangers ... God lovingly comes and LIFTS ME UP lest I fall!

And ... have you noticed that if your "head" is lifted up ... the rest of you follows! Therefore One Who could lift your head can also lift your hands and knees and eyes, etc.  See Hebrews 12:12 --- "Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees."

What faith and what strength to so worship God in the midst of David's circumstances (running for his very life from his rebellious son Absalom)!

If David can praise God and list some of His sweet Titles under those conditions ... what should Brother Bagwell do today?  And YOU?

                                                                                       --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

PSALM 3, VERSE 4 ...

This is the fifth study in a series from Psalm 3.  Today's lesson was placed on this Page Monday morning, March 1, 2004 at 5:15 AM

"I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill.  Selah."        Psalm 3:4

Our verse today is not as complex as yesterday's. 

David here is just telling us of his "cry" unto the Lord.  The verb "cry" ("qara in Hebrew) is used 735 times in the Old Testament!  The textbook meaning is "to call out to" someone.  But there is a slight "nuance" regarding this word that's worth mentioning.  It has the root idea of "encountering" someone (the lexicon says whether accidentally or purposeful).  It looks to us like David so far has only "encountered" problems (and plenty of them)!  But, NO!  He says he has "encountered" God Himself!  Can we see God like that in our daily life events?  The verb further reveals the time sense on crying out again and again!  (Persistent prayer!)

Then, again, if you will notice our verse ... this has to be an audible cry!  David is not silent in these prayers.  He uses his "voice."  The noun ("qol") is from a verb background that means "to call aloud."  There is just something special about calling (loudly) upon God.  It is mentioned again and again in the Old Testament!  Maybe we could just admit that at times our fears are crying out within us (or our worries or our doubts or our old sins) ... and we NEED to cry out louder to our God who can quiet the whole situation!

But look what God did when David prayed!  The Lord "heard."  The verb is "anah" and means "to eye, to heed or to pay attention!"  The word also carries the idea of then "responding" to what one has seen!  Let me show you what I mean.  In the King James Bible this verb is translated "hear" 42 times.  BUT the King James translators also render this very same verb as "answer" 242 times!  So God hears David's prayers ... and also ANSWERS them!  (Wow!)

The term "holy hill" is a reference to the little mount on which the Temple would later sit.  It is a picture of God's dwelling Place!  As in "Our Father Which art in HEAVEN ...."

An old Puritan said, "When prayer leads the soul forward ... in due time deliverance WILL bring up the rear!"

Well meaning folks often say:  "God hears and God answers prayer!"  This is true. But with our verb in today's verse:  With the Lord, to HEAR IS TO ANSWER!

Then verse 4 ends ... with another "Selah."   Remember that it's a musical term. We've already seen that it can mean: "Pause and ponder what's just been said."  But another meaning the old preachers used to give it is:  "To go up, to ascend."  It was often understood that this perhaps indicated that the choir was to sing LOUDER or "go up" in pitch and volume, etc.  BUT I WONDER if it could not also mean that we are going UP a bit in spiritual truth as the Psalm develops.  Many passages of Scripture do "build" and intensify as they reach their climax.

For example: the first Selah here in Psalm 3 is associated with a statement about David's enemies.  Here it is again:  "Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah."

But our second Selah seems to be on a higher plane!  It is associated with the Lord and His great answers to prayer!  "I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah."  Now THAT'S a "higher" Selah for sure!

I can't wait to see if the third and final Selah of our Psalm tops them all!

Lord willing, more tomorrow ... when we shall look at the next verse.

                                                                                                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

PSALM 3, VERSE 5 ...

This is the sixth study in a series on Psalm 3.  It was posted Tuesday morning, March 2, 2004 from a motel in Marion, North Carolina at 9:30 AM)

"I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me."

(Psalm 3:5)

Here David, in the midst of great danger (Absalom’s rebellion), has so trusted the Lord and is so sure of God’s answer and protection ... that he just goes to sleep!

What a blessing such a simple thing is! To be able to sleep is a gift from the Lord! If you do not believe so, read Psalm 127:2 --- "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep."

Some folks can’t sleep due to sickness. Some can’t sleep due to worry. Some can’t sleep due to guilt and sin! Some get little sleep due to double work schedules ... just paying the bills. If God has given you sleep ... praise Him for it!

I have also noticed in studying for this verse that some of the old timers (and I do mean old Bible commentators) applied part of this Psalm to Jesus! (I think you can see "hints" of Jesus often in the Psalms and absolute portraits of Him occasionally!) If so ... after all the enemies unleashed their wrath upon Him ... after God had no help for Him ... after He cried unto God ... He "laid down" His life and "slept." Could this be a picture of His time in the grave? (I am not advocating what used to be called "soul sleep" here. I know Jesus was quite "busy" during this grave time ... but in typology He slept.)  BUT ... after a brief time, He awoke!  For the Lord "sustained" Him!  (Wow!)  This just could be Messianic!

Here’s a further "hint." The verb "laid down" is in a "perfect" form as far as its "timing" goes. It means the action was done ... over with ... not to be repeated! Jesus only died once!  (Never again!)

David next, rejoicing in God’s Hand of Safety upon his life, says "I awaked!" Each morning we awake we should praise the Lord God! We should put our feet on the floor saying: "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

Jesus also could say "I awaked" from the sleep of death! Jesus once claimed that He would raise Himself from the grave! Listen to Him in John 10:17-18. "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." BUT Scripture also says that the Holy Spirit raised Him from the dead in 1 Peter 3:18 --- "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit." See it! "Quickened by the Spirit!" And of course God (the Father) raised Him from the dead! Romans 10:9 --- "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."  The Resurrection was the Word of The Triune Godhead!  "He hath done all things well!"  (Mark 7:37)

And lastly, "sustained" is a Hebrew verb ("samak") which means "to uphold!" (To support!) David acknowledges the strength and stability that comes from the Lord!

Would you agree with me this rain filled Tuesday morning that God indeed "sustains" us! He "props" us up so we don’t fall (can’t fall)!

Glory to His Name!

Lord willing, tomorrow morning we shall go to verse 6 of Psalm 3 and study some more! I am truly enjoying this passage.

                                                                                --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

PSALM 3, VERSE 6 ...

This is our seventh study in Psalm 3.  It was written and posted March 3, 2004, from Marion, North Carolina, where I'm preaching in a revival meeting.

Look with me today at Psalm 3:6. It perhaps pictures as clearly as any Scripture in the Bible the fact of the fearlessness of a child of God!

"I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about."    Psalm 3:6

What an interesting clause: "I will not be afraid!" Here is David’s mind dictating to his will which in turn commands his very emotions! David’s mind is telling David’s spirit how to feel! (Paul does the very same thing when he says to the Philippians: "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice."  Philippians 4:4) Or just maybe fear is NOT a reaction of the emotions alone. Maybe it is a function of the spirit! Either way, David is fearless!

Solomon addresses this issue in Proverbs 28:1 where he says: "The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion."   Then Proverbs 29:25 adds: "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe."

I once heard a wise old preacher say that if one fears God ... he will fear no man! But if he fears man ... He will not fear God! That makes a lot of sense to me.

I hear Paul wanting to say something else: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."  2 Timothy 1:7

Remember that David makes this statement while fleeing for his life. His own son Absalom is leading a rebellion against the King! The rebel army is growing daily it seems. There are literally tens of thousands against the King right now! YET HE HAS NO FEAR!!

David had "ten thousands" of enemies! BUT God has "ten thousands" of angels! Here’s the first Bible use of the "string" ten thousands: "And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them." Deuteronomy 33:2  Ten thousands of saints (angels) at Sinai at the giving of the Law!

By the way, one reason David is not afraid is that he has had the veteran experience of past battles. He’s never know God to lose a one! Let me show you what I mean. 1 Samuel 18:7 says: "And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands."

"People" is a Hebrew noun ("am") that means an "association" of people. These people are gathered together in confederacy AGAINST David. (Remember how Herod and Pilate were enemies ... until it came time to crucify Jesus! At that point they became "friends" in the cruel death of Christ! That’s evil association!)

They "have set" themselves against God’s anointed King! The verb ("shiyth") means to put or to lay (hands upon)! Generally speaking it is said that this is a word of physical action, often involving movement from one place to another (as here).

"Against" is a preposition (Hebrew = "al") which means "over, against, above, upon." These enemy rebels are all over David. They want to slay him. Yet in Christ he still has no fear!

"Round about" is one of the Hebrew words that means a circle! (To revolve or to surround!)

It sure looks like David is surrounded by his enemies ... those who would kill him! BUT HE NO DOUBT REMEMBERED A VERSE THAT HE HAD PERHAPS WRITTEN EARLIER! Psalm 34:7 --- "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them."   Dear friend, the Lord SURROUNDS us too!

Now I don’t know if you have any "fears" today or not. But I do know Paul told us: "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31

It is almost a certainty then that the FEAR OF THE LORD scatters the fear of man!

May God grant us that kind of boldness in these last days!

                                                                          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

PSALM 3, VERSE 7 ...

This is our eighth study in Psalm 3.  This material was posted on Thursday, March 4, 2004, at 6:45 AM from Marion, North Carolina

In the seventh verse of this great passage David prays:

"Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly."   Psalm 3:7

"Arise" (Hebrew = "qum") means to get up, to lift up, to set up, to raise up! In a military context, "qum" may mean to engage in battle! It’s a imperative verb here designating an intense spirit of prayer on David’s behalf.

"Save me" is the precious verb "yasha." It’s the verb that gives us our "Saviour" words like Joshua and Jesus! It primary background comes from a verb that means "to be open, wide or free. It also can mean "to be safe." (It is also an imperative.)

Also note that in the first eight words of our verse, one finds two great Names for God (Jehovah and Elohim). It’s only four words in Hebrew (two of Which are God’s Names)!

We are on some mature praying ground here!

No sooner (in this case) has David prayed it ... but that God answered it!

God "hast smitten" the enemies! The verb "nakah" means to strike, beat, slay or even kill! The verb is a "perfect" form ... indicating action that is completed.

"Enemies" comes from a root word that means "to hate."

"Cheek bone" is one Hebrew noun and literally means "to be soft." (Apparently because that part of the face, the cheek bone area is often soft and fleshy!) It is translated "jawbone" 3 times in the King James Version. It’s a strike at their head (and a direct hit too)!

"Broken" is Hebrew "shabar" and means to burst or to crush or to destroy or even to tear! It’s a Piel stem ... showing intensive action!

"Teeth" is a noun ("shen") that’s translated in the KJV ivory (10 times), sharp (2 times) but teeth (31 times) and tooth (10 times)! Once it’s rendered "forefront!" (1 Samuel 14:5) To break someone’s teeth is to render them harmless. They can no longer "bite and devour!" Listen to Paul in Galatians 5:15 --- "But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another."

The "ungodly" are the "rasha" --- the wicked! (In the KJV) it’s "wicked" (249 times) and ungodly (8 times).  It has the idea of moral wrong.  It is a pretty active word also --- with a verbal root that means "to disturb or violate."

Do see that although God has broken teeth and smitten cheek bones, David is STILL PRAYING for deliverance! Don’t quit praying!

When one views this little verse through Christological lens (looking at it via Jesus), God HAS ALREADY risen! And He WILL smite the enemies’ cheek bones and break their teeth!

What praying!

By the time this complete Psalm is studied as a whole ... and preached ... it is going to become a powerful message for the dear people of God!

Our last verse (Lord willing) comes tomorrow.

                                                                         --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

PSALM 3, VERSE 8 ...

This is the ninth and final study in a series of lessons from Psalm 3. It was placed on this "Sermons" Page Friday morning, March 5, 2004 at 6:50.

"Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah." Psalm 3:8

David began this little Psalm with more enemies than he could count! (Ten thousands of them!) But here at the last verse he is basking in the goodness of God’s blessings!

Let’s see what he says.

"Salvation" (Hebrew = "yeshuah") means deliverance or victory (other valid definitions: welfare, something saved)! It comes from a root word that has the idea: to be open, wide or free, to be safe! This sure sounds like "salvation" to me!

Let me mention too that this word Yeshua is basically the same as the Old Testament name "Joshua," which means savior or deliverer! And if "Jesus" is spelled in Hebrew rather than Greek ... it would approximate "Yeshua" also. To me this throws a lot of light on the fact that "Salvation belongeth unto the Lord!"

This is the only time in the Bible that I can find where salvation belongs to anybody! (David spoke in Psalm 51 of God’s salvation! He prayed: "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit." Psalm 51:12) Jonah came close to saying the same thing: "But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD." Jonah 2:9 So then in reality when we get "saved" ... God has given us a gift, the gift of His salvation! (His Jesus!)

In looking at this word "belongeth" (italicized in the King James Version), I discovered several things that belong unto God! While I’ve sort of "jumped a rabbit" here, I’ll list them for you! Vengeance belongeth unto the Lord (Deuteronomy 32:35 and Psalm 94:1 and Hebrews 10:30)! Power belongeth unto God (Psalm 62:11)! Mercy belongeth unto the Lord (Psalm 62:12)! And righteousness belongeth unto the Lord (Daniel 9:7)! Quite a list, isn’t it?

Then David speaks to the Lord.

He says: "Thy blessing is upon Thy people." "Blessing" is the noun "berachah," which means a present or a gift or a treaty of peace or (of course) a blessing. It is translated "liberal" (as in liberality) once in our King James Bibles (Proverbs 11:25). "Benediction" says one lexicon. It comes from a verb that means "to kneel."

The preposition "upon" is in Hebrew "al" and means: above, over or upon! (Sounds like "all over" to me!)

And "people" is that little term that means a congregated group of folks! (God draws "congregations!") The "church" by definition (ekklesia) is a "called out assembly, a congregation!)

And then the final word ... "selah!"

This is the highest point in the whole Psalm! Selah may mean "ascent!" If so notice that this is the 3rd "selah" in our short chapter! I fell like we’re about in the 3rd heaven too!

Also as a musical term "selah" may mean pause, rest momentarily, and think or ponder what’s just been said.  I think I will.  

                                                           --- Dr. Mike Bagwell