David was on the run from his enemies, hiding in a cave. In desperation he cried out to God for mercy and vindication (vs 1,2). In human terms, David was in real trouble. And yet, his psalm is filled with confidence. He is confident that God will hear his cry, thwart his enemies and deliver him. He does not simply expect personal deliverance. He looks forward to God’s ultimate victory, where God’s glory will fill the whole earth.

That description of ultimate hope in verse 5 is repeated at the end of the Psalm in verse 11. In the second section of the Psalm, he again presents the threatening activity of his enemies (v 6). And he expresses his confidence in God. This time he elaborates on his desire to worship and sing to God. It seems like his heart is overwhelmed by the great love of God, and his faithfulness that reaches all the way to the heavens.

A time of great danger brought the greatest of worship from David’s heart. Why? Because God’s goodness massively overwhelmed David’s fear of his enemies.

‘Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God.’¹

Today’s psalm is thematically linked to the previous psalm, as a prayer for deliverance when threatened by enemies. It is also structurally similar to Psalm 56, composed of two balanced halves, each with seven Hebrew lines composed of three couplets and a refrain. It probably captures David’s reflections while he was hiding in a cave from Saul.² He is facing multiple real dangers and what bothers him most is the slander, gossip and criticism surrounding him (v 4). Verbal cruelty can do just as much
damage as physical abuse, and David’s imagery of teeth as spears and arrows, and tongues as sharp swords, captures this. Yet he refuses to answer with hateful words, instead going to God with his problems.

David speaks of God as his refuge and of finding refuge in the shadow of his wings until the disaster has passed (v 1). This models a highly practical response to trauma and disaster. God’s presence is the only safe place when life seems to be falling apart and we are wounded by the words or actions of others. This habitual practice of prayer and praise in such times is David’s lifeline. It can be ours as well. David then speaks to his own soul, calling out to his innermost being to prepare for praise (v 8). This is a common theme in the psalms, reflecting an awareness that we have the ability to intentionally influence our thoughts and emotions.

David says that through his soul’s worship, by using his instruments, he will awaken the dawn. Instead of spending a sleepless night worrying about what he cannot change, he uses these hours awake to find suitable expressions of praise and worship. This example shows us how to turn times of anxiety into times of meditating on God’s faithfulness.

Do you talk to yourself? Do you know how to speak to your soul? This can be a transformative spiritual practice. How can you direct your soul today?

¹ Ps 43:5 ² 1 Sam 22–24