Page 68 - The Poetic Books - Student Text

The words “sleep” and “wake” can speak of death and
resurrection. “To sleep with one’s fathers” is often a reference
to death. (See Job 3:13; 14:12; Jer. 51:39, 57; Dan. 12:2; Psalm
13:3). The same verses use “wake” for resurrection (adding
Isaiah 26:19). “Your dead will live, LORD: their bodies will rise –
let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy –
your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give
birth to her dead.” Here is the ultimate answer to David’s
predicament. One day the Messiah will die and rise again. This
blessed one (1:1), who shares blessing with all who take refuge
Figure 36: a good night's sleep?
in him (2:1), provides God’s deliverance. “May your blessing be
on your people (3:8).” Blessing of the Messiah leads to blessing of the Messiah’s people.

Much more work can be done in reading the individual psalms in this Christ-centered way based on
Psalm 1 and 2. “Psalms 3 and 4 are just the first of a series of individual prayers that dominate Books I
and II and reveal that for the Psalter’s redactor [editor] they represent the petitions of the persecuted
eschatological messianic king portrayed in the introduction. In other words, the transition between
Psalms 1-2 and Psalm 3 points the way to the reading strategy behind the present canonical shape of the
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Psalter.” The situation that caused David to think these thoughts may have been the attack by
Absalom. The antidote to his son’s rebellion was not a good night’s sleep but reflection on the victorious
death and resurrection of the Messiah sometime in the future. That is the topic of Psalm 3.

Both the organization of the five Books of Psalms and the connections between psalms demonstrate a
Christ-centered theology. As we use this book personally or in church, we are called to a Christ-centered
use. We are called by the example of Psalms to make sure our worship is truly Christ-centered in all its
facets.

7.4 Let’s Practice….

1. What is a “wordfield?”

2. List five words that have a similar spiritual meaning as “refuge.”

3. Explain the imagery of a “rock.”

4. Give two connections between Psalm 3 and the first two Psalms.

5. In Psalm 3 was David celebrating a good night’s sleep or the resurrection of the coming Messiah?

112 Ibid., 152.
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