Deliver me from my enemies, O God; protect me from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from evildoers and save me from bloodthirsty men. See how they lie in wait for me! Fierce men conspire against me for no offense or sin of mine, O LORD. I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. Arise to help me; look on my plight! O LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel, rouse Yourself to punish all the nations; show no mercy to wicked traitors.
They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city. See what they spew from their mouths- they spew out swords from their lips, and they say, “Who can hear us?” But you, O LORD, laugh at them; you scoff at all those nations.
O my Strength, I watch for you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God. God will go before me and will let me gloat over those who slander me. But do not kill them, O Lord our shield, or my people will forget. In your might make them wander about, and bring them down. For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. For the curses and lies they utter, consume them in wrath, consume them till they are no more. Then it will be known to the ends of the earth that God rules over Jacob.
They return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city. They wander about for food and howl if not satisfied. But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.
David was coming to the right place to be delivered from evildoers. His best efforts at trying to be reasonable with Saul had been rebuffed. His kindness was always mistaken for weakness. While David dealt honestly and openly, Saul traded in lies and trickery. Saul had all the earthly power, position and influence and did his best to keep David on the outside looking in.
But David had the Lord, the Ultimate Champion for the underdog. The Lord protected, provisioned, and preserved him, all the while turning the lemons Saul threw at David into lemonade. Through all the torment and abuse God was making David into Israel’s most beloved King and beginning a dynasty that would culminate in the Messiah Himself!
At the end of the Book of Genesis as Joseph was forgiving his brothers for all they had done to him he said, “What you intended for evil, God intended for good.” (Genesis 50:20) And so it was. The people of Egypt had been saved from the great famine, Jacob’s family was reunited and given the finest land in all of Egypt, and next to Pharaoh Joseph was the most powerful man in the world. None of this could have happened if the brothers hadn’t sold Joseph into slavery. Similar stories can be told about Samson, Esther, Daniel and a host of others.
But the ultimate example came 2000 years after Joseph, when God sent His only Son into the world, and His own people rejected Him and put Him to death. But what they intended for evil God intended for good, because through His death the world was saved, God’s family is being reunited and returned to the Promised Land, and the Son of God is King over the whole Earth, second only to God in power and authority. It could never have happened if His people hadn’t rejected their Messiah.
And so it is with you. When evildoers pursue you and the powers of this world seem to be lined up against you remember, what they intend for evil God intends for good. For God is working all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. O my Strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.