When Your World Falls Apart (Psalm 3-7)

When Life Takes a Turn for the Worst (Psalm 3-7)

1. Psalm 3: Facing a New Day (Ps 3:5-6). Peace amid danger (Ps 3:8).
2. Psalm 4: Facing Another Night (Ps 4:4; 6:6). Joy apart from circumstances (Ps 4:7-8).
3. Psalm 5: Starting a New Day (Ps 5:3).
4. Psalm 6: Waiting is Hard (Ps 6:1-4). Prayers and tears (Ps 6:6-9).
5. Psalm 7: A Conscience without Offence (Ps 7:3-5). A cry for justice (Ps 7:6-11).

Psalm 3 is one of 14 psalms that are linked with historical episodes, all in the life of David (Ps 3, 7, 18, 30, 34, 51, 52, 54, 56, 57, 59, 60, 63, 142). David's son Absalom, whom he loved, was trying to kill him. This family dysfunction was David's own fault. He never addressed Absalom's murder of his brother. Now David is fleeing to save his own life. David faces personal grief (2 Sam 18:33) and pressing issues: a rising tide of disloyalty (Ps 3:1, 6; 2 Sam 15:13), the rumor that God has withdrawn from him (Ps 3:2; 2 Sam 15:26) and the precarious state of his people (Ps 3:8).

Psalm 4 describes the approach to night with its temptation to brood on past wrongs (Ps 4:4) in the midst of present perils (Ps 4:1-2). Despite the most wounding of aspersions and discouragements, David recounts God's calling (Ps 4:3).

Psalm 5 is a morning psalm (Ps 5:3) when David is surrounded by enemies, who are seldom absent from David's psalms. Despite their presence, David goes to God (Ps 5:7). He prays to be led by God's righteousness (Ps 5:8, 12) and for their demise by their own counsel and plans (Ps 5:10; 2 Sam 15:31). Despite being hemmed in by his own troubles he is conscious of those who join him in praise (Ps 5:11).

Psalm 6 is the first of 7 "penitential" psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143). It vividly describes the agonizing anguish by one who is deeply troubled and alarmed (Ps 6:1-4) as well as his prayers and tears (Ps 6:6-9). David is not pleading against rebuke, correction and discipline (Ps 6:1, 38:1-4), but that it may be tempered with mercy (Ps 6:2). He is tormented in mind and body with an uneasy conscience, and appeals to grace to temper the discipline he deserves.

Psalm 7

1. What was the context or situation in which David wrote this Psalm (Ps 3:1; 2 Samuel 15-13ff)?
   
2. Who is God to David in the midst of trouble and adversity (Ps 3:3-4, 7-8)?
   
3. How is David able to sleep in such a time (Ps 3:5-6)?