In you, O LORD, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me!
Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me!
For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me;
you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.
Comment: There was a favourite old hymn which some people dislike nowadays. They claim that it is too militaristic. It started ‘Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war.’ There certainly have been religious wars and I don’t want to judge those who were involved. Nevertheless Christianity is revolutionary and seeks to share the message of the gospel with everyone. This psalm is a beautiful mixture of David using the imagery of soldiering and his total submission to God. He could and did shelter behind rocks and fought from fortresses. He was a mighty warrior. But he did realize that God did keep him from being caught by the strategies of his enemies. I wonder what he had in mind when he used the word ‘redeemed’? Post-Christ we think of redemption as what was achieved for His followers when Jesus died for our sins. Did David have some understanding of what lay in the future or was he remembering times when he was trapped in critical battle situations and God delivered him? Do we need to be more aggressive than we are to see the message taken to all men?
Prayer: Please let me never be ashamed of You, my God, and cowered into silence.
As I read it! 
Thank you Barry for your comments. As far as I know, we Christians are in a war against the devil and his evil tricks. When we read Ephesians 6:10-18 we read about putting on the armour of God to fight against the devil. David had many wars to fight, and God delivered him and gave him victory in many battles. But our battles today are mainly battles to remain faithful to the God who sent His Son to save us. God bless you.
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