Psalms 3:3

But thou, O Lord, [art] a shield for me,.... Or "about me" (a) protecting and defending me.

But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

For me, or about me, on every side, where also mine enemies are. My glory; either, 1. The author of my princely glory and majesty. Thou didst first give it, and I doubt not thou wilt defend and restore it. Or, 2: The matter of my glorying. Thou hast formerly and frequently given, and wilt further give me occasion of glorying or boasting of thy power and favour to me. The lifter up of my head; thou dost and wilt enable me to look up to thee with comfort and cheerfulness, and upon mine enemies with confidence; and thou wilt lift me out of the mire in which I now lie, and restore me to my former power and dignity from which I am fallen. For the phrase, see .

Psalms 3:3 But thou, O LORD, [art] a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.Ver. 3. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me] And such a shield as will never fail me. Prodente clypeo vulneratus sum, I am betrayed by my shield, said Brasidas the Lacedaemonian, when he was wounded through it (Plutarch). David had a better shield than so; better than that of Ajax, in Homer, which was επταβοειον; better than that of Demosthenes, whereupon was written, Quod felix faustumque sit; better than that of Sceva at the siege of Dyrrachium, wherewith he so long resisted Pompey’ s army, that he had two hundred and twenty darts sticking in it. Densamque tulit in pectore sylvam (Lucan.). God was to David a shield around him, as the Hebrew here hath it; and not a shield only, but a sun too, as Psalms 84:11. Hence it followeth, My glory] Or, my victory, Quia victor semper habet gloriam, saith Aben Ezra here, because a conqueror is never without glory; such as was Caesar with his Veni, vidi, vici; and Cimon, the Athenian, who twice in one day triumphed over the Persian navy; and Huniades, who fought five times in one day with the Turks, and five times foiled them, and put them to flight. Whereupon he was entertained and welcomed home with most glorious acclamations of the people, some calling him the father, some the defender, of his country; the soldiers their invincible general; the captives, their deliverer; the women, their protector; the young men and children, their most loving father, &c. And the lifter up of my head] Giving me matter of mirth, and making me, who was very sad, and thrown down with grief, joyful and cheerful. See Genesis 40:13; Genesis 40:20 Luke 21:28 Jeremiah 52:31 Psalms 110:7.

(3) For me.—Better, behind me. A protection from the emissaries of Absalom, now on his track. My glory, and the lifter up of mine head.— “Comp.— “O et praesidium et dulce decus meum.” HORACE, Ode I., 1:2. The significance of this sublime trust comes out as we read in 2 Samuel 15:30 how the humiliated monarch went barefoot over Olivet, with head bent down and muffled in his mantle; no glory or dignity left; mute and humiliated under the insults and curses of Shimei.

Verse 3. Thou, O Lord, art a shield] As a shield covers and defends the body from the strokes of an adversary, so wilt thou cover and defend me from them that rise up against me. The lifter up of mine head.] Thou wilt restore me to the state from which my enemies have cast me down. This is the meaning of the phrase; and this he speaks prophetically. He was satisfied that the deliverance would take place, hence his confidence in prayer; so that we find him, with comparative unconcern, laying himself down in his bed, expecting the sure protection of the Almighty.

3, 4. Men may say that God has forsaken him, but he knows that it is not so.

But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me - Not only in these dangers, but in all dangers. The declaration here has a general form, as if he could trust in him at all times.

3. But thou, O Lord—From the desperate human aspect of things faith turns its eye to God alone. A shield for me—Or, a shield about me. See Genesis 15:1; Job 1:10.