King David in just 9 Verses (Psalm 3)

The book of Psalms is repetitive. Lots of good poetic imagery but much of it boils down to this:

1. I, David, am really amazing. So why are the wicked out to get me? My suffering is immense, I weep profusely. God, why won’t you do anything?!
2. I, David, am sure God will help me in my personal vendettas. God: please crush, destroy, torture, root out, smash the wicked (ie. my enemies).
3. I, David, have just been rescued by God. Great! My whole life has been nothing but joy. When I was complaining (point 1 above), I was just exaggerating.
4. I, David, will now praise God. How fabulous is your Torah and your wicked-smiting ways!

Psalm 3 nicely illustrates almost the entire cycle. In just 9 verses:

A song of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.
O Lord, how many have my adversaries become! Great men rise up against me. Great men say concerning my soul, “He has no salvation in God to eternity.” But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory and He Who raises up my head.
With my voice, I call to the Lord, and He answered me from His holy mount to eternity. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord will support me. I will not fear ten thousands of people, who have set themselves against me all around.
Arise, O Lord, save me, my God, for You have struck all my enemies on the cheek; You have broken the teeth of the wicked. It is incumbent upon the Lord to save, and it is incumbent upon Your people to bless You forever.

David is I think by far the most 3-dimensional character in the Bible (which is why I’ll shortly blog the entire book of Samuel, which deals with his life). I think he was manic-depressive. His highs are very high, his lows very low. In a few lines he can jump from despair to elation. Perhaps this is why the Psalms still speak to people: they describe the essential human condition. You don’t have to be manic-depressive to experience life as a frequent alternation of high and low.

David is the original mob boss. Rashi’s commentary says “teeth” is metaphorical (God taking away the power of David’s enemies). Still, what a Tarantino image! David’s God here is a mafia soldier who will literally smash the teeth of those who get in the way of his boss. And yet the next moment God is merciful, saving the people.

Of course the text does not specify who the enemies are. Maybe they were really horrible! (Although it’s still petty to break their teeth. Especially if you’re omnipotent!) A revealing line is that they think David “has no salvation”. This probably refers to the incident of Bathsheba. So his enemies are those who criticised him for having sex with a married woman and having her husband killed indirectly. In David’s world, someone who criticises him as king becomes an enemy of God. Very understandable for several millenia ago. But how can so many people today find inspiration in psalms like this one?