I am always excited as we unpack the truths of a new Psalm.  The title of this Psalm, ‘To The Chief Musician, A Psalm of David’, tells us little but that it was for public worship.  We are reminded in this Psalm that we sing publicly of praise or misery.  This Psalm is certainly a mosaic of misery and mercy, faith and feeling, and on a wave and in a wave.  We find in our study this Psalm can be divided into 6 stanzas.  We turn to verses 1-4 to what we call “The Stanza Of Strength” which says, “In thee, O LORD, do I put trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily; be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name’s sake lead me, and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.”

We find through our study this strength is ‘In His Trust’. (Vs. 1-2a)  How blessed to begin a Psalm speaking of our trust in the Lord.  The word ‘trust’ means to flee for protection, to confide in, and to find hope and refuge.  Let us be assured one can never be ultimately put to shame that wholly trusts in the Lord.  Let us shun all doubt and mistrust of our fleshly self.

David appeals to the righteousness of God for deliverance.  There is great strength in this trust.  If God’s mercy gives a promise you can be assured His righteousness will perform what is promised.  This strength of trust is manifested in verse 2a. There is a cry for an audience with God.  Oh what strength to imagine the almighty of heaven giving me the ear of His undivided attention.  It is the picture of one putting his ear to the lips of one feeble, helpless, and dying.  Such is our case.  The request is for a speedy deliverance.  We cannot set a time limit upon the God of heaven, but we can come boldly to the throne of grace and find well timed help.

In verse 2b through verse 4 we find “Strength In His Titles”.  He refers to the Lord in verse 2b by the titles of rock and house of defence.  This title, ‘house of defence’ speaks not of a temporary place to run in times of need, but a place to dwell at all times.  The phrase ‘rock and fortress’ speaks of an unconquerable fortress such as the ‘Rock of Gibraltar’.  The double use of titles is verse 3 illustrates the desperate need of the writer.  There is great strength for us when all is done for His namesake.  Let all be done that he will receive maximum glory and lift His name as high as the heavens are above the earth. 

The terms ‘lead’ and ‘guide’ in verse 3 speaks of operations done because of who He is.  When I sense that you are there, take my hand and lead me in a plain path.  When I sense you are withdrawn, guide me O Thou great Jehovah through this barren land.  This leading is a visible Shepherd’s presence.  The guide is the sovereign providence of His governing of my mind, affections, and decisions.  He gets great glory from a completed work.  We can receive strength in the fact of ‘That which He starts, He will conclude, and what He commences, He will complete’.

There is also great “Strength In His Testimony” found in verse 4.  We have a God who can snatch us from the net of any tempter’s snare.  Our Lord loves to hear our cry for help and the acknowledgment of Him as our only strength.

As I read and study these verses about our source of strength, I am reminded of the words of Solomon, David’s son.  They have become to us our life verses.  Solomon said in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”