31 Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
31
31 O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
31 God! Look! Enemies past counting! Enemies sprouting like mushrooms,
31 A Psalm of David when he fled from Absalom his son. Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.
31 O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me.
5 Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
5 Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes.
5 Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.
5 With your help we'll wipe out our enemies, in your name we'll stomp them to dust.
5 Through You we will push down our enemies; Through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us.
5 Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes.
(Read Psalm 44:1-8)
Former experiences of God's power and goodness are strong supports to faith, and powerful pleas in prayer under present calamities. The many victories Israel obtained, were not by their own strength or merit, but by God's favour and free grace. The less praise this allows us, the more comfort it affords, that we may see all as coming from the favour of God. He fought for Israel, else they had fought in vain. This is applicable to the planting of the Christian church in the world, which was not by any human policy or power. Christ, by his Spirit, went forth conquering and to conquer; and he that planted a church for himself in the world, will support it by the same power and goodness. They trusted and triumphed in and through him. Let him that glories, glory in the Lord. But if they have the comfort of his name, let them give unto him the glory due unto it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 3:1
Commentary on Psalm 3:1-3
(Read Psalm 3:1-3)
An active believer, the more he is beaten off from God, either by the rebukes of providence, or the reproaches of enemies, the faster hold he will take, and the closer will he cleave to him. A child of God startles at the very thought of despairing of help in God. See what God is to his people, what he will be, what they have found him, what David found in him. 1. Safety; a shield for me; which denotes the advantage of that protection. 2. Honour; those whom God owns for his, have true honour put upon them. 3. Joy and deliverance. If, in the worst of times, God's people can lift up their heads with joy, knowing that all shall work for good to them, they will own God as giving them both cause and hearts to rejoice.