Deliver Us from Evil

Jewish tradition associates the writing of this psalm with King David’s flight from the royal palace in Jerusalem when Absalom, his firstborn, had declared himself king in the southern city of Hebron (2 Sam. 15:13-15). David was aware that Absalom’s following was rapidly increasing. Three times David exclaims about his “many” enemies. The turmoil within his own family was a consequence of his sin with Bathsheba and the slaughter of Uriah, her husband. He also had enemies from among Saul’s followers, who knew him as a man of bloodshed. Later Shimei publicly cursed him and pelted his entourage with stones, crying out, “Get out, get out, you murderer, you scoundrel” (2 Sam. 16:5-8)! David could not deny his sins. The whole nation and all his enemies knew. They taunted him that God would not answer or deliver him from their power.

However, as morning comes and he awakens in the open, with his shield protecting him from the dew, he envisages God as a shield, all around him as protection. God was the source of his confidence, the One who enabled him to hold his head high and not be cowed by the accusations of his enemies. Maybe Paul also remembered this psalm and it brought confidence to him as he faced opposition from the Jews. 

We can only be confident of God’s deliverance from evil if we have repented like David and received God’s forgiving grace for our sin (Psa. 51). Our confidence is not in ourselves but in God, who answers the prayers of his people. Then, free from fear, we too can sleep in peace, no matter what assailants we might have to face in the morning. God will intervene to deliver us and destroy the powers of evil which oppose us. God will bless his people. He is our shield.

When did you last feel abandoned? By friends? By God? How did it play out? What did you learn from it?