For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil[b] of David. When the Ziphites(A) had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?”
1 Save me(B), O God, by your name;(C) vindicate me by your might.(D) 2 Hear my prayer, O God;(E) listen to the words of my mouth.
3 Arrogant foes are attacking me;(F) ruthless people(G) are trying to kill me(H)— people without regard for God.[c](I)
4 Surely God is my help;(J) the Lord is the one who sustains me.(K)
5 Let evil recoil(L) on those who slander me; in your faithfulness(M) destroy them.
6 I will sacrifice a freewill offering(N) to you; I will praise(O) your name, Lord, for it is good.(P) 7 You have delivered me(Q) from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.(R)
Saul envied David and sought to kill him. (See 1Sa 23:13-29.) During his years as a fugitive in the desert David learned to depend on God. He didn't know what to do, so he cried out to God for help. The wilderness life became a time of God's training. Because he cried out to God in time of trouble, he grew in his inner man. God's training helped him grow as a great king and shepherd for his people.
2. He has delivered me (4-7)
When we depend wholly on God, he is always faithful to help. David experienced the saving grace and help of the Lord. He never forgot to offer a thanksgiving offering, and to praise and thank God who delivered him from all his troubles. Hard problems are opportunities to pray; God's deliverance is an opportunity to praise and thank God.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for hearing and answering my prayers when I call on you with all my heart. Help me to offer to you an offering that expresses my thanks.