When David wrote Psalm 3, his son, Absolom, had incited his people against him. David was on the run. Enemies were everywhere. Even those to whom David had shown great compassion rushed to ridicule him.

David couldn’t see any hope. David couldn’t anticipate any end to the hostility. The king had been a bad father. The king had made terrible mistakes. Maybe he did deserve this. Maybe God wouldn’t save him. Maybe his enemies were right.