Theme of Ps 1,2: God's goodness is lasting, His principles are like iron versus chaff when compared with the foolishness of wickedness.

Psalm 3

David's enemies are the wicked--so no matter how much they talk about his helplessness, he knows that his God will deliver him.

The Facts:

What three things has David noticed about his foes?

1.	there are becoming many

2.	Many are rising against him

3.	Many say there is no help in God for him

And to whose attention does He bring these things? Yahweh's!

Why do his enemies say, "There is no help for him in God."?

1.	–they have the apparent advantage "surround . . ."

2.	They are trying to discourage him or convince each other to rebel.

Where is the battle of this controversy fought?

1.	In the mind: That's why when Abe believed, God credited it to him as righteousness, and why when Adam and Eve did not believe, but ate the fruit they joined the other side.

What does God do for those who believe? What characteristics of God is He also aware of? progression/relationship?

1.	You are a shield about me, (phys?)

2.	my glory, lit: weight, greatness, honor (sp?)

3.	the lifter of my head (mental?)

Why does David need a head lifter?

What do we know even about the fighting of this battle for the mind? Who wins it?

How does having God for one's glory help when one is surrounded by foes? What does God do as David's shield and glory, and what does He apparently not do?

1.	let's him sleep at night,

2.	gives assurance,

3.	but does not prevent all threats.

Why? If He is going to save anyway, why let us go through all this torture?

1.	(Battle is not won by preventing trouble, but by keeping mind right in trouble.)

2.	Wow! Life isn't in danger, so what have we to fear?

What does David do in all this, and what response does he get?

1.	I cry aloud

2.	to the Lord

3.	and He answers me

4.	from His Holy Hill

Notice the order. Why does God wait until David cries out to give an answer? (Where's the battle?) Once the mind is set, the battle is over, but God will not force the mind.

What surprising abilities does David have even with so many foes?

1.	I lie down and sleep

2.	I wake again for Yahweh sustains me

3.	I am not afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me.

Ten thousands of whom? Why not?

1.	People versus God is no match

2.	David knows he is God's

What does David cry aloud when surrounded?

1. He cries out "Arise, O Lord!

2. Deliver me, O my God

What does He expect God to do?

1. You strike my enemies on the jaw,

2. you break the teeth of the wicked.

Will God break just any enemy's teeth for me? What qualification must an enemy have to get that kind of treatment from God? What does it mean for God to "break the teeth" of the wicked? Who must our enemies be for God to strike them on the jaw?

So God won't break just any enemy's teeth?

Who are David's enemies?

the wicked

What an interesting picture. Before my enemies had sharp teeth. Now all they can do is gum me.

With what characteristic of God does David finish the whole psalm?

1. Deliverance belongs to the Lord-so whoever is Yours (the Lord's) is blessed!

What two things does God own?

1.	Salvation

2.	and His people

flow: What should any believer do when surrounded by enemies? What can he be confident will happen in response? (What does that "answer" include?) What attitudes and abilities does this give the believer?

How does David get the boldness to cry out, Arise and deliver me? He knows how God takes the fangs out of the wicked.

What does it mean to say that God is my glory? In what sense is God David's glory? shield indicates protection, and lifter of my head seems to indicate encouragement, what is glory doing inbetween these two?