1 O Lord, how many are my foes!

    there is no salvation for him in God. 

It is hard to understand the peril David found himself. His own son Absalom betrayed him and with the people of Israel (thousands upon thousands) took action to take over David’s kingdom and take his very life. In the desperate situation of loneliness, fear, worry, betrayal, and possible death, David cries aloud to God and there he finds comfort. The Lord is the shield and the sustainer of life. David finds solace in God because the God of Israel, the Creator God whose power is unmatched among the fiercest of enemies, is the same God David puts his trust in. When we also face the trials, the tribulations, and are in desperately frightening situations, we have One who stands at our defense, our perfect shield against the flaming arrows of the enemy. 

God not only is the protector and sustainer of our lives, but David ends the Psalm stating that salvation belongs to the Lord. Yes, David was thinking of salvation for his current and immediate predicament. However, the scripture’s timeless truth applies to the greatest enemy for all believers, our own sinful nature and our captivity to the chains of darkness. While we face the greatest of temptations and the sins that surround, stalk, torment us, we experience the great salvation of God. For Christ has struck down our enemy on his pierced back, nail scarred hands and feet, and took our iniquities upon Himself. It is Jesus Christ in whom we have salvation, and that is the greatest comfort, hope, and treasure no matter how bleak our situation is. Praise God for his wonderful blessings on His people: Himself to a lost and dying world.