Psalm 3 begins a thematic grouping of 12 of David's psalms (3-14), as we will later see in conjunction with Psalm 8 and Psalm 14.

Psalm 3 is the lament David composed when he fled from his son Absalom (see the Beyond Today Bible Commentary on 2 Samuel 15:1-16:14; Psalm 3). Driven by ambition to become king himself, Absalom turned the hearts of the people away from David. David despairs that so many have turned against him (verse 1). They no longer believe God is with him to help him (verse 2).

The phrase "lifts up my head" (verse 3) expresses David's belief that God will raise him up from the humiliation he suffers. In 2 Samuel 15:30 we read of the sad occasion of David being driven out of Jerusalem: "So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up."

In spite of intense enemy opposition, David is able to sleep without fear, "for the Lord sustained me" (verses 5-6). The KJV and NKJV translation of verse 7 says that God has come to David's defense before. However, the NIV translates verse 7 as a present request for God to "strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked." Even if the latter is correct, God has indeed intervened for David before and will certainly do so again—just as He will for all of us who place our trust in Him.