The Scrolls is a weekly Bible study written by pastors and other leaders at Central Bible Church, based on that week’s sermon topic. Use The Scrolls as a personal Bible study tool, for family devotions, and for small group discussions. You can read part of it below. The downloadable PDF also includes discussion questions, more in-depth commentary, end notes, and a kids’ page designed for families to study the topic together. This lesson goes with the sermon "Light of Hope."
Hope enables us to cope with the challenges life brings our way. In troubled times hope lets us sleep at night—a hope that is rooted in an understanding of our God and our future. This can be illustrated from the life of David.
While it isn’t always necessary to identify the historical occasion behind a psalm, in some cases recognizing the situation that prompted the psalmist to pen his prayer can be. Take Psalm 3 for example, thought to have been written by David in the face of Absalom’s attempted coup d'état, as attested in the superscription—“A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.”
The psalm is often labeled “a lament psalm,” namely, a prayer for help in a time of distress. Such psalms typically—but not rigidly—reflect the following five elements: 1) an introductory cry to God; 2) a lament or complaint, describing the crisis from which the speaker desires deliverance; 3) a petition or supplication; 4) a statement of confidence in God; and 5) a vow to praise or simply praise of God (see Leland Ryken, How to Read the Bible as Literature, 114-15).
On the historical situation that occasioned Psalm 3, one commentator explains: “The psalm finds David at a low point in his life. Because of his sin with Bathsheba (2Sa 11-12), his life was torn apart by family troubles (2Sa 12:15-14:33) and his kingdom wrenched from his grasp by Absalom’s rebellion (2Sa 15:1-19:43). The hearts of Israel were with Absalom (2Sa 15:13). The anointed of the Lord [i.e., David] (cf. Ps 2:6) was forced to flee Jerusalem and wait out the crisis at an encampment across the Jordan (2Sa 17:24). Thus the psalm reflects the national situation as well as the personal feelings of David” (Willem A. VanGemeren, Psalms, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, rev. ed., 5:99).
The sequence of events surrounding Absalom’s rebellion began with Amnon’s rape of Tamar and unfolded over more than a decade. Amnon was Absalom’s brother from a different mother; Tamar was Absalom’s sister. Two years later following the rape (2Sa 13:1-22), Absalom devised and executed a scheme to kill Amnon (vv. 23-38), after which he fled to Geshur, a small country east of the upper Jordan River in Syria where he stayed for three years. With the help of Joab (14:1-24), Absalom returned to Jerusalem where he lived for two years without seeing his father’s face (v. 28). After burning Joab’s field to get his attention, Absalom persuaded Joab to get him an audience with David (vv. 29-33). When they met, Absalom bowed down to his father in a show of repentance, and David in turn kissed his son in a show of forgiveness. But the story did not end happily there.
“In the course of time,” Absalom schemed to usurp the throne (15:1). For four years he patiently courted the favor of Israel, with a view to having himself proclaimed king in Hebron (vv. 2-12)—ironically, the very place where David was first proclaimed king and where Absalom was born. Hearing of his son’s treachery, “David said to all his officials who were with him in Jerusalem, ‘Come! We must flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. We must leave immediately, or he will move quickly to overtake us and bring ruin on us and put the city to the sword’” (15:14). Exactly how long David remained in exile is unclear, but only after Absalom’s forces were defeated and he himself was killed (18:6-18) does David return to Jerusalem (20:3).
The links between Psalm 3 and David’s distress in the face of Absalom’s threat are numerous. One author writes: “Note that the opponents of the author are numerous (vv. 1, 2, 6); note the same situation in II Sam. 15:13. Again, the attitude of some of David’s opponents was that he had forfeited all right to hope for divine aid; cf., II Sam. 16:8. V. 2 of our psalm says the same thing. That David directs his prayer to the holy hill (v. 4) agrees well with the situation as outlined in II Sam. 15:25, where David had taken steps to have the ark, which marked the presence of God on the holy hill, returned to Jerusalem rather than to have it taken along with him on his flight. Lastly, the thought that the issues of this whole experience rested with God (cf. v. 9) is the very thought expressed in II Sam. 15:25” (H. C. Leupold, Exposition of the Psalms, 59). Throughout the Absalom debacle, David in hope could say every morning, “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side . . . From the LORD comes deliverance” (Ps 3:5-6, 8a; cf. 4:8).
Central Message of the Text
Our LORD Jesus, the messianic Son of David, enables us to sleep peacefully, free from anxiety, knowing that we are secure in him.
Family Talk
When I was growing up, my parents owned a restaurant. December was the busiest month of the year with special events and caterings stacked on top of normal business hours. I remember going with my mom to Mrs. Walsh’s house to plan the menu for her grand holiday extravaganza. Mrs. Walsh always had a sweet and special ornament for me to take home; a nice treat for tagging along. I remember the seasonal decorations, festive lights and special holiday music. Mostly, I remember the anticipation and excitement for that one special day. What I don’t remember is how the evening of December 24 would roll around and my mom would leave the restaurant to panic buy all our Christmas presents. As a child, Christmas was just a magical and special time. On this side of adulthood, I recognize the tension and pull my parents must have experienced. It’s Christmas week. The to do list is long and two-day delivery is no longer guaranteed. There is a significant difference, however, from then to now. Today, as an adult follower of Christ, Christmas takes on a whole new meaning. I understand now that we’re celebrating the birth of our King. Jesus was born in humble circumstances, lived a sinless life and died to bring new life to those who call on Him. Anticipation and excitement for Christmas morning still makes me giddy, but I now know that this hope is only a glimmer of the anticipation and excitement I have for Jesus’ return. Merry Christmas, friends. May the love, peace, and hope of Jesus Christ fill your home. As always, we’re praying for you!