In the early verses of this Psalm, David prays for deliverance and expresses discouragement that followers of God are few in his society, thus, “for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.” As David continues to pray, his despair turns into confidence in the power of God as he highlights the character and steadfast love of God. These things about God should encourage us as well in a fallen world:
God saves through the mode of preservation. Deliverance does not always manifest itself in the form of “hedge of protection” in certain seasons of our lives; but rather like a shade tree that shields and preserves us from the worst impacts of life’s storms. David’s confidence was in God’s deliverance from the wicked, thus he repeats God’s promise, “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.” Though we suffer for righteousness sake, God preserves us through it all. Paul affirms this truth when he says, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not destroyed; (10) always carrying in the body of death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. (11) For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh” (2 Cor 4:8-12).
Faith in God’s word secures us. David proclaims that the Word of God is pure. It is perfect and complete in every way thus he says it is, “…like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times” (cf. Gen 2:1-3). This is a direct contrast to the words of the wicked which are infected with deceit and flattery whose end objective is to destroy. Therefore, David rightly concludes that God can and will guard his people from the wicked that prowl on every side even, “…as vileness is exalted among the children of man.”
When it comes to salvation, the Bible does not promote “escapism,” but rather new life preserved unto new creation. God does not provide golden parachutes out of life’s troubles, but rather his Spirit that strengthen our hands and hearts within it (cf. Neh 6:9). Remember the story of Noah. God did not teleport them out of the earth to protect them from judgement of the wicked men of the world, rather, he preserved their lives in an ark of salvation within the waters of destruction (1 Pt 3:20). Amen.
Blessings,
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D
www.springoflivingwaters.com