These five psalms all appear to come from particular moments, mostly fairly early in David’s career. Several of them follow the theme of calling on God for protection and salvation in the face of enemies who want our lives destroyed. “Save me from all my pursuers, and deliver me, or like a lion they will tear me apart; they will drag me away, with no one to rescue” (Psalm 7:1-2). “I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances” (31:11).

Yet in the midst of this distress, there is the confidence that God is still at work. “Your tongue is like a sharp razor, you worker of treachery. You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking the truth. … But God will break you down forever; he will snatch and tear you from your tent” (52:1-5). “When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh – my adversaries and foes – they shall stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident” (27:2-3). “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all” (34:19).

We should notice that there is this promise of rescue in the midst of great trial: but before that rescue comes, there really are those many afflictions. David offers the testimony, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears” (34:4); but he also calls out to God in desperation, “Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily” – pleading for a speedy rescue because he knows that God does not always rescue speedily. Sometimes it looks like we’ve been abandoned, and we have to keep on calling out, “Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, O God of my salvation!” (27:9). In such moments we need to keep reminding ourselves, “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (27:14).

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Help us, O Lord, in the midst of our worry and our fear. Our adversaries usually seem stronger than we are; we call out to you to rescue us speedily. Yet teach us to wait for you, and to take courage: you are the Lord, and we set our trust in you, in every circumstance, even in life and death.

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