Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 3:5
I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.
5. The pronoun is emphatic: I, pursued by enemies, despaired of by friends: and the words refer to the actual experience of the past night. The calmness which could thus repose in the face of danger was a practical proof of faith.
sustained ] R.V. sustaineth. The tense suggests the unceasing, ever active care by which he is upheld. The same word is used in Psa 37:17; Psa 37:24; Psa 71:6; Psa 145:14. Contrast Psa 27:2.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
5, 6. Not only past but present experience justifies this confidence.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I laid me down and slept – Notwithstanding these troubles and dangers I had such confidence that God hears prayer, and such calm trust in his protection, that I laid me down gently and slept securely. The psalmist mentions this as a remarkable proof of the divine protection and favor. He was driven from his capital, his throne, and his home. He was compelled to wander as a poor fugitive, accompanied by only a few friends. He was pursued by enemies, who were numbered by thousands. He was made an exile, and persecuted by his own son; and with this son there were men of age and of experience in war. The forces of his enemies might come upon him at any moment. In these circumstances, persecuted as he was, and under all the anxiety and distress which he felt in view of the ungrateful conduct of his own son, he regarded it as a singular proof of the divine favor, and as an illustration of the peace which confidence in God gives to those who put their trust in him, that on such a dreadful night he was permitted to lie calmly down and sleep. As such a proof and illustration it may be regarded here: a proof of the unspeakable value of the divine favor, and an illustration of the effect of confidence in God in giving calmness and peace of mind in time of trouble. Psa 127:2.
I awaked – Still safe and secure. He had not been suddenly attacked by his foes, and made to sleep the sleep of death; he had not been crushed by anguish of spirit. That we are awaked in the morning after a nights refreshing slumber; that we are raised up again to the enjoyments of life; that we are permitted again to greet our friends and to unite with them in the privileges of devotion, should always be regarded as a new proof of the goodness of God, and should lead to acts of praise. We have no power to awake ourselves; and when we remember how many are taken away from our world each night – how many there are who lie down to sleep to wake no more, we should never rise from a bed of repose without giving our first thoughts in gratitude to our Great Preserver.
For the Lord sustained me – He kept me from danger; he preserved me from death. And it is as true now as it was then, that God is the supporter of life when men sleep. He guards us; he causes the action of the heart to be continued as it propels the blood through our frame; he secures the gentle heaving of the lungs, both when we slumber and when we wake.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 3:5
I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.
Gods protection of the helpless
The reason why we sleep in peace and rise up in safety is, the Lord sustained me. This is one of those truths, long familiar and unrealised, which later on m our spiritual life may become to us fresh discoveries. Underneath the beating of every heart, and underneath the whole order of human things, and underneath the world and all worlds, there is forever a present active sustaining power from one generation to another, and that power is the power of God. The same truth is equally true if stated more widely. Whether we take as our measure the short time of the earth turning on itself, or the longer time of the earth travelling round; whether we speak of the day or of the sum of all the year, with its multitude of thoughts, its complexity of circumstances, its frequent risks and incessant occurrence of events;–still there is always abiding over us the same Divine protection, never tired, never slackening. Some people are so situated in life that they have but very little pressure and very few cares. All along the path of life seems smooth to them. That is but a tame life, and unless we have the nerve to make ourselves useful in some way, time so passed is a yoke which soon sits uneasy on the shoulder. Days wasted are a bad investment of life, and a dark account to be laying up. But the many are blessed with the pressure of responsibilities, and obliged to take up the happy burden of usefulness. All Christian burden bearers have laid them down to sleep, and risen again feeling that a benefit has been conferred on them, a sustaining hand has been bearing them up, and their good God has been giving to the human trial the promise He speaks of, As thy days, so shall thy strength be. The Hebrew word translated sustained means to place the open hand under a thing to support it. The Sept. renders by a word meaning to take hold of one another by the hand, the weaker being so supported. How does the kindness of God support the weakness of all Christians? He tells His own secret in Colossians
1. It is done by His Christ and our Christ. There He says how He has qualified us to partake of the portion of the saints in light; how He has rescued us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. It is in Him, He says, we have redemption through His blood, even the remission of sins. Let us count up, discover, and consider these many mercies until our heart warms into some honourable and loving recognition of this care, which is never tired of us and never leaves us. We may feel confident from the past that God will take care of us in the future. (T. F. Crosse, D. C. L.)
Sleeping and waking
One of the mysteries of life of which men hardly think at all is the mystery of sleep. Deaths twin sister, it has been called. Into its secrets the cleverest man cannot pierce, though all men share its blessings. See the tired man worn out after a heavy days work, or burdened with care. He flings himself on his bed, his days work or his days trouble, his foremost, ever-present thought. Kind sleep touches his eyes. His fatigue is forgotten, his cares are gone. What thought strikes us most forcibly as we look on the picture of the sleeper? Surely the thought of helplessness. The strongest man asleep cannot defend himself or help himself. And yet the millions of mankind daily lie down to sleep, and daily rise again, safely and in peace. Why? We know why, though we so often carelessly forget it. Because God is with us always, never leaving us for an instant to ourselves; about our path and about our bed; the Almighty Father, with more than a mothers love and tenderness. Ought we not to have, at least, Davids faith? I say at least because we know so much more of Gods truth than he did, have so much more light upon our path than he had. We know our weakness and helplessness, but we know our Helper. If we will only love and serve God in Christ, and consecrate our lives to Him, we are safe. (Samuel Pascoe.)
A trustful sleeper
Luther noticed one evening a bird quietly settling down for the darkness of the night, and he exclaimed, That little fellow preaches faith to us all! He takes hold of his twig, tucks his head under his wing, and goes to sleep, leaving God to think for him.
Preserved amidst the dangers of the night
In Mongolia we had one rather serious adventure. The south edge of the plain is famed for storms, and the night we camped there, just after dark, began one of the fiercest thunderstorms I can remember having seen. The wind roared, the rain dashed, the tent quivered; the thunder rattled with a metallic ring, like shafts of iron dashing against each other, as it darted along a sheet-iron sky; the water rose in the tent till part of our bed was afloat. It was hardly possible to hear each other speak; but amid and above all the din of the tempest rose one sound not to be mistaken, the roar of rushing water. There was a river to right of us, but the sound came more from the left. Venturing out, I found there was a great swift-flowing river on both sides of us; that we could not move from the little piece of elevated land plain on which we had our tent; and that a few inches more water, or an obstacle getting into the path of the upper river, would send the full force of the current down on our tents. Flocks, herds, men are said to be swept away now and again in Mongolia, and for an hour our case seemed doubtful; but about 11 p.m. the storm ceased and the danger was over, and, though we had hardly anything left, we went to sleep, thanking God for His preserving mercy. (James Gilmour.)
And rose up again.
Christian uprising
The whole world is full of Divine tokens. Everything should put us in mind, more or less directly, of Jesus Christ our Saviour. The sun rising in the east is natures token, to remind us of Christmas Day; and here in the text we find a no less clear token of the mysteries of Easter, our Lord dying and rising again. It is not anything new to have such a verse applied to the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord. The old fathers and bishops so explained it from the very beginning of the Church. We do well to connect thin mystery with our own lying down and rising up as often as night and morning return. Sleep is an image of death. To a Christian it is an image of the death of Christ. Our daily lying down and rising up is given us for a sacramental sign and pledge of Christs death and resurrection, and of our own. Our falling asleep is a mystery, a thing which takes place we know not how, a thing out of our power, as much so as death itself. What becomes of us during our sleep? That longer sleep which we call death may come on us we know not how, and leave our bodies without power or thought for awhile, our souls in the meantime departing we know not where, and employed we know not how. There is a still higher and more awful depth of mystery in the Psalmists words, spoken as they are in His person, who is both God and man. It is as if we heard Christ Himself, risen from the tomb, and saying, I laid Me down and slept, and rose up again, for the Lord sustained Me. The Lord, the most high and glorious Godhead, still in our Saviours Person, inseparably joined to His human soul and body, even while the one was in the grave and the other in Paradise, or elsewhere in the regions of the dead,–He still continued the same Christ, very God and very man, and by virtue of that Eternal Spirit He raised Himself from the dead when His time was come. Notice what gracious help is afforded to those who are willing so to lift up their hearts, by Christs making so common a matter as our daily sleep and awakening a token and sign of this most awful mystery. Christ, even now abiding in His people, makes them already in this world partakers of a heavenly and Divine life. He sustains them, sleeping and waking, in life and in death, in their beds and in their graves; for in both conditions they are alike members of Him. But all this depends upon our keeping our baptismal vows. One or two rules of recovery and perseverance–
1. Since it is Christ only who sustains us, when in our lying down, or sleeping, or rising up, how dare any of us lie down or rise up without solemnly committing himself to Christ on his knees in devout prayer? Private devotion must be one great help towards saving and recovering the heavenly life which our Lord offers to sustain in us.
2. The Holy Communion of the Body and the Blood. This is the sacrament of perseverance and growth in grace, as baptism is of repentance and regeneration. The heavenly life which Christ has begun in us can be sustained in no other way besides that which He has appointed. Prayer, then, and Holy Communion, are necessary to all. (Plain Sermons by Contributors to Tracts for the Times. )
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me.—
Faith stronger than fear
It is said that the Romans were accustomed only to inquire where the enemies were and not after their numbers Faith revived and invigorated by prayer and fixed on God alone is a stranger to fear in the worst of times. (Bp. Horne.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 5. I laid me down and slept] He who knows that he has God for his Protector may go quietly and confidently to his bed, not fearing the violence of the fire, the edge of the sword, the designs of wicked men, nor the influence of malevolent spirits.
I awaked] Though humanly speaking there was reason to fear I should have been murdered in my bed, as my most confidential servants had been corrupted by my rebellious son; yet God, my shield, protected me. I both slept and awaked; and my life is still whole in me.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I laid me down and slept, to wit, securely, casting all my cares and fears upon God, and relying upon his help. I awaked in due time and manner, after a sweet and undisturbed sleep.
Sustained me; or, supported me, as it were with his right hand, that I should not fall under my burden. He upheld my spirit, and person, and cause.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. the Lord sustained meliterally,”will sustain me,” as if his language or thought when helaid down, and the reason of his composure.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
I laid me down and slept,…. After the battle was over between Absalom’s men and his, says Aben Ezra; but rather this was in the midst of his trouble and distress, since he afterwards prays for salvation: and this sleep was either, as Jarchi observes, through his heart being overwhelmed with grief; for there have been instances of persons sleeping through sorrow, as Elijah, Jonah, and the disciples of Christ, 1Ki 19:4; or rather this is expressive of the calmness and serenity of his mind amidst his troubles; he laid himself down in peace, and slept quietly and comfortably; he did not lose a night’s rest, his sleep was sweet unto him; which was a blessing of life from the Lord that everyone does not enjoy; see Ps 127:2;
I awakened; in the morning, alive and cheerful, Some lay themselves down and never awake more, as Sisera the captain of Jabin’s army, and Ishbosheth the son of Saul; and this might have been David’s case, considering the circumstances he was in: and others, through perplexing thoughts and cares, or pains of body, or uneasy dreams, rise fatigued and distressed; but David arose in good health of body, and tranquillity of mind, and comfortably refreshed;
for the Lord sustained me; the psalmist committed himself to the care and protection of God; he laid himself down in his arms, and there slept in safety; the Lord preserved him, who is Israel’s keeper, that neither slumbers nor sleeps: and he rose in health and cheerfulness in the morning, supported by his right hand. This shows, that lying down to sleep, when in such circumstances, and awaking with cheerfulness, were not owing to rashness, stupidity, and insensibility, but to divine supports. These words may be interpreted, as they are by some of the ancients, of the death of Christ, and of his resurrection from the dead by the power of God; death is often expressed by sleep, and the resurrection of the dead by an awaking out of sleep, Da 12:2; and Christ’s death being signified by lying down and sleeping, may denote both the voluntariness of it, that he laid down his life freely and willingly; and his short continuance under the power of death, it was but like a night’s sleep; and his resurrection from the dead, being expressed by an awaking through the Lord’s sustaining him, shows that it was by the power of God, even the exceeding greatness of his power: and the whole of this may be applied to the case and state of the saints and people of God, who at times have rest and peace amidst their enemies; though they have tribulation in the world, they have peace in Christ; and notwithstanding the temptations of Satan, and the corruptions of their own hearts, they have joy and comfort through believing in Christ; the Lord sustains them with precious promises, and supports them with the discoveries of his love, and upholds them with the right hand of his righteousness.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(Heb.: 3:6-7) That this God will protect him, His protection during the past night is now a pledge to him in the early morning. It is a violation of the rules of grammar to translate : I shall go to sleep, or: I am going to sleep. The 1 pers. fut. consec. which is indicated by the , is fond of taking an ah of direction, which gives subjective intensity to the idea of sequence: “and thus I then fell asleep,” cf. Psa 7:5; Psa 119:55, and frequently, Gen 32:6, and more especially so in the later style, Ezr 9:3; Neh 13:21, vid., Ges. 49, 2, Bttcher, Neue Aehrenlese, No. 412. It is a retrospective glance at the past night. Awaking in health and safety, he feels grateful to Him to whom he owes it: . It is the result of the fact that Jahve supports him, and that God’s hand is his pillow.
(Note: Referred to the other David, Psa 3:6 has become an Easter-morning call, vid., Val. Herberger’s Paradies-Blmlein aus dem Lustgarten der Psalmen (Neue Ausg. 1857) S. 25.)
Because this loving, almighty hand is beneath his head (Son 2:6) he is inaccessible and therefore also devoid of fear. ( ) carries its object in itself: to take up one’s position, as in Isa 22:7, synon. Psa 28:3 and 1Ki 20:12, cf. . David does not put a merely possible case. All Israel, that is to say ten thousands, myriads, were gone over to Absolom. Here, at the close of the third strophe, is wanting because the (I will not fear) is not uttered in a tone of triumph, but is only a quiet, meek expression of believing confidence. If the instruments struck up boldly and suddenly here, then a cry for help, urged forth by the difficulties that still continually surrounded him, would not be able to follow.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
According to the usage of the Hebrews, these words, which are in the past tense, I laid me down and slept, are taken sometimes for the future, I will lie down and sleep. (44) If we retain the reading of the verb in the past tense, David expresses a wonderful and almost incredible steadfastness of mind in that he slept so soundly in the midst of many deaths, as if he had been beyond the reach of all danger. He had doubtless been tossed amidst the merciless waves of anxiety, but it is certain their violence had been allayed by means of faith, so that however much he was disquieted, he reposed in God. Thus the godly never fail in ultimately proving victorious over all their fears, whereas the ungodly, who do not rely upon God, are overwhelmed with despair, even when they meet with the smallest perils. Some think there is here a change of tenses; and, therefore, translate the verbs into the fixture tense, I will lay me down and will sleep, and will awake, because immediately after a verb of the future is subjoined, The Lord shall uphold me But as he expresses, by these last words, a continuous act, I thought it unnecessary to change the tenses in the three first verbs. Still we ought to know, that this confidence of safety is not to be referred peculiarly to the time of his affliction, or, at least, is not to be limited to it: for, in my judgment, David rather declares how much good he had obtained by means of faith and prayer; namely the peaceful and undisturbed state of a well regulated mind. This he expresses metaphorically when he says, that he did the ordinary actions of life without being disturbed by fear. “I have not lain,” says he, “waking and restless on my bed; but I have slept soundly, whereas such manner of sleeping does not generally happen to those who are full of thought and fear.” But let us particularly notice that David came to have this confidence of safety from the protection of God, and not from stupidity of mind. Even the wicked are kept fast asleep through an intoxication of mind, while they dream of having made a covenant with death. It was otherwise with David, who found rest on no other ground but because he was upheld by the power of God, and defended by his help. In the next verse, he enlarges upon the incalculable efficacy of this confidence, of which all the godly have some understanding, from their experience of the divine protection. As the power of God is infinite, so they conclude that it shall be invincible against all the assaults, outrages, preparations, and forces of the whole world. And, indeed, unless we ascribe this honor to God, our courage shall be always failing us. Let us, therefore, learn, when in dangers, not to measure the assistance of God after the manner of man, but to despise whatever terrors may stand in our way, inasmuch as all the attempts which men may make against God, are of little or no account.
(44) Selon l’usage des Hebrieux, ces mots qui sont en un temps passe, Je suis couche et endormi se prenent ancunesfois pour un temps a-venir, Je me coucheray et dormiray. — Fr.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
5. I laid me down and slept This proves it to be a morning song, probably the day after he had left Jerusalem.
Sustained me See Psa 37:24
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Section 3. His Confidence In The Midst of Danger.
‘I laid myself down and slept,
I awoke, for YHWH sustains me.
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people,
Who have set themselves against me round about.’
So satisfied that YHWH had heard him he could now settle down to sleep. And in the morning he awoke, aware that he was still safe because YHWH was sustaining him. With that knowledge he would not be afraid of anyone, even ‘ten thousands’ of people (a great army), even though they had surrounded him and were set against him.
The picture fits exactly into the circumstances. David in the camp, supported by his men, his faithful private army, together with others who had accompanied them, faced with the possibility of an approaching army of Israel surrounding the camp in order to destroy them, but no longer afraid because YHWH sustained him.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Some have thought that what David saith in this verse of laying down and taking rest, hath a much higher meaning than the common sleep of the bed. They have supposed that the words are typical of Jesus laying in the grave, and his glorious resurrection that followed. And certainly it is a beautiful idea, well deserving to be kept in view in this Psalm. For with confidence it had been spoken of the Lord Jesus by the spirit of prophecy, that Jehovah would not leave Christ’s soul in hell neither suffer his Holy One to see corruption. Psa 16:10 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 3:5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.
Ver. 5. I laid me down and slept ] My faith was above my fear; I knew whom I had trusted. No marvel I slept so soundly, seeing Antipater was by, and watched, said Philip of Macedon (Plutarch). We may better say so of Antipater, our gracious Father. Oh the safety of a saint! He ever goes guarded with the peace of God within him and the power of God without him, Phi 4:7 1Pe 1:5 , and hence his spiritual security. David will never break his sleep for any danger or doubt of success. Peter was found fast asleep the night before he should have been executed, Act 12:6 . So was our proto martyr, in Queen Mary’s days, Mr Rogers; insomuch as that, scarce with much shugging, could he be awakened, when he was called for to be burned. Some few years since Mr White, of Dorchester, being a member of the assembly of divines at Westminster, was appointed minister of Lambeth; but for the present could get no convenient house to dwell in, but one that was possessed by the devil. This he took; and not long after, his maid, sitting up late, the devil appeared to her; whereupon in a great fright she ran up to tell her master; he bade her get to bed, saying, she was well served for sitting up so late. Presently after, the devil appeared to Mr White himself, standing at his bed’s feet. To whom Master White said, If thou hast nothing else to do thou mayest stand there still and I will betake myself to my rest. And accordingly composing himself to sleep, the devil vanished (Mirror for Saints, by Mr Clark, 460).
I awaked
For the Lord sustained me
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
slept = have slept. At Mahanaim (2Sa 17:27-29).
sustained = was sustaining.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psalm 3:5-6
Psa 3:5-6
“I laid me down and slept;
I awaked; for Jehovah sustaineth me.
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of the people.
That have set themselves against me round about.”
This mention of lying down to sleep and awakening are the basis for naming this Psalm “A Morning Prayer.” This appears to me to be a rather insufficient grounds for such a name; but still we do not object to it. It has been used as a morning reading by countless people in all ages.
“They have set themselves against me.” “According to Kay, this is a military expression, as used in Isa 22:7. The background of this Psalm is given in 2 Samuel 15-16.
Before leaving these verses, it is appropriate to remember that no one knows when he goes to sleep, whether or not he shall ever awaken, and that only the blessing of God enables the sleeper to wake up. As a Medical doctor stated it, “No one ever draws his first breath without God’s blessing; and it is also true of every other breath throughout life”!
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 3:5. This verse is a brief but beautiful statement concerning the watchful care that God had over David. In his waking or slumbering lours the vigilance of the Lord sus-tained him.
Psa 3:6. Numbers do not count when arrayed against the true man of God. Paul expressed the same thought in Rom 8:31.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
I laid: Psa 4:8, Psa 127:2, Lev 26:6, Job 11:18, Job 11:19, Pro 3:24, Act 12:6
the: Psa 4:8, Psa 66:9, Pro 14:26, Pro 18:10, Isa 26:3
Reciprocal: 1Ki 14:20 – slept Psa 91:5 – terror Psa 139:18 – when I awake
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
GODS PROTECTION OF THE HELPLESS IN SLEEP
I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.
Psa 3:5
I laid me down and slept; and awaked.
I. If we stopped at that point, hundreds of millions could make this announcement every day.It is a fact so common that no one records it, and no one communicates it. When night comes, work ceases and rest begins. Business, pleasure, even trouble gradually pause, and the earth is quiet until we rise again, and the round goes on once more.
II. But the text does not stop at that point.It goes a step further, and a long step. It adds, as a reason why we sleep in peace and rise up in safety, this further fact, for the Lord sustained me. This also is a truth well known, though too little thought of. While I walk consciously independent through the day, He it is Who is all the while supporting me; in my absolute dependence when I lie down to rest, He it is Who keeps my helpless hours; and when I rise up again, I do so because the Lord sustained me.
III. So let us enter upon another year, and be grateful for His mercies which have so long been given to us.Let us count up, discover, and consider these many mercies until our heart warms into some honourable and loving recognition of this care which is never tired of us and never leaves us. He devotes Himself to make us happy, and His happiness is to do us good, to see us good, and to find us grateful. We may feel confident from the past that God will take care of us in the future. We cannot be sure we shall have all smooth days; but we may be sure, after the most troubled ones, that Gods love will come to us, and whatever hard things we have to do or bear, our experience will still be, as Christians, I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.
IV. And still, when the time His love has measured out for us has ended, the prospect spreads beyond, a new hope rises for the faithful child of GodI will say unto the Lord, Thou art my Hope and my Stronghold; my God, in Thee will I trust. Still our trust may say, Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me.
Canon Crosse.
Illustration
The elevated tone of the Psalmists faith is very remarkable. Amidst the ill-treatment to which the Psalmist had been subject there is no anger; peace passing all understanding is his. It is not the frozen peace of indifference. He is the subject of popular hatred and misrepresentation, but he calls for no revenge. His trust is firm in the protection of God, self is a minor consideration, and the cursing he receives is but answered by blessing. Devout men, knowing the sinfulness of the human heart, might well consider that so lofty an attitude was that of the Son of Man. This little poem, which on cursory consideration does not coruscate with imaginative beauties, reveals to careful study much of the calm, true light of heavenly things.