“Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me. There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. Show me a sign of your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.” (v1,3,5,7-13,17)
There is one main theme of deliverance, with two sub-themes of deliverance – delivering the righteous from the unrighteous, and deliverance of the unrighteous from themselves (ie. from sin/wickedness/satan).
David requests that God be his deliverer, the provider of steadfast love, grace, forgiveness, joy, truth, strength and favor/blessing. In response, David pledges to praise and glorify God with his entire being for there is none like God in character or works (see v1-8,10-13,16 on this theme).
David also requests deliverance (or at the very least awareness of God) for those who oppose God (see v9,14-15,17 on this theme).
Deliverance/salvation is a theme throughout the entirety of scripture, probably because when Adam sinned we all needed saving – “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” (Rom 5:12)
I think Paul really covers these themes well in Romans: “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” (Rom 6:4) and “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.” (Rom 10:1)
The only other thing I’ll emphasize is that David commits his entire existence to thanking God, proclaiming His glory, and crying out to God all day long. What does that mean? It means that David is willing to do and say everything for the glory of God, all day long every day, whether that’s writing a spiritual Psalm, or doing something benign like washing clothes (even though he probably had a servant do that, it’s just an example). We are to present all things before God in prayer: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” (Col 3:23-24) and “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Ths 5:16-18) Though being mindful of God in all that we say and do is very important (and people such as Brother Lawrence dedicate their entire life to learning and teaching this concept), we won’t be able to fully cover that topic at this time, I’m simply pointing out that David understood it’s an “all-in” scenario when we commit to follow God.
Father God, the deliverer of Your people in past, present and future, we acknowledge Your presence today. Thank you for the ongoing gift of salvation – for sin and circumstance, for us and the unbelievers. Jesus You asked us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, for You cause the sun to rise equally on the evil and on the good – so we ask for Your work in the hearts and spirits of those who do not yet accept You as Lord and Savior. Please remove the specks from their eyes, and the planks from ours, so together we may inherit Your kingdom both here on earth and in heaven. Please also gently remind us of Your constant presence, so we may learn to cry out to You all day long, and and love You through all that we say and do. All glory, honor and praise be to You, God of grace and mercy. Amen.
~ Conqueror in Training