Psalms 3:7
Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly. Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
Psalm 3:7 belongs to the song David sang as a dethroned and crownless king while fleeing from Jerusalem during the rebellion of Absalom. He sang it beside the Jordan when, spent with grief and the weariness of flight, he rested a few hours with his company of men, women and little children. He was then awakened for immediate flight to cross the deep, swift stream in darkness with the forces of his traitor son close behind.
At the time David was in terrible peril in his darkest trial, though a mighty and valiant man of war and a king whose word was law. He had been cruelly wronged, betrayed by the son whom he had loved and indulged and unwisely trusted. He had been wronged and deserted by subjects bound to him by the strongest ties of honor and fealty.
In that hour, with his heart stayed upon God, he poured out the feelings of his soul in a call for God to save him. Sung in that hour of darkest trial, the verse breathes trust in God for rescue from enemies set round about. His confidence was that God is his shield, his glory and the lifter up of his head, who hears prayer from His holy hill and sustains the sleeper. So he can sleep and awake without fear though enemies and even ten thousands of people set themselves against him round about. The verse confesses that salvation belongs to the Lord and His blessing is upon His people.