Confidence in God is the theme of the third Psalm.
The third Psalm, expressing David's feelings when he fled from before his rebellious son Absalom (2 Samuel:15,17, has been made by the Holy Spirit the first of a second series of introductory Psalms (verses 3 to 8).
Psalms 3 to 7 tell the feelings of the small number of the Jews who will look to God for salvation when His heavenly people (the believers in Christ in this present age) have been taken away from the earth (1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4), and Palm 8 gives God's answer to the prayers included in the five preceding Psalms.
The expressions used in Psalms 3 and 4 were surely somewhat the Lord's own feelings as He took His place with the godly Jews in His path from Nazareth to Calvary. None knew rejection as He did. Although the cross is not particularly in view in Psalm 3, we may compare verses 2 and 3 with Matthew 27:39, 4439And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, (Matthew 27:39)
44The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth. (Matthew 27:44).
These Psalms also express the sufferings of the godly in Israel in a future time.
The word: "Selab" (verse 2) found often in the Psalms and also in Habakkuk 3, has not been entirely explained, but it seems to mark a place to pause and consider what has been said.
The close of the third Psalm (verses 7 and 8) expresses the confidence of faith that the enemies will surely be destroyed, and that God's people will be blessed, because salvation is of the Lord.