David once again is facing a great deal of hostile opposition who are determined to get rid of him (v. 4). Their animosity is unjustified (v. 7). Therefore he asks the Lord to fight for him (v. 1). He likens the Lord to a soldier in verses 2 and 3 who takes up weapons to pursue enemies. At the same time, he desires that the Lord would give him inner assurance that he would be delivered.
The victory he desires is comprehensive (v. 4), which is a measure of his degree of confidence in the Lord’s ability to remove from any place of influence and position all those opposing his servant. He asks that they be reduced to nothing (chaff) and to find themselves in dangerous places where they will be destroyed (v. 8). The Lord can do all this in his providence, a reminder of how David’s confidence was based on his knowledge of God. (David even requests special divine help associated with the ‘angel of the Lord’ [vv. 5-6], which may be a reference to a pre-incarnate appearance and activity of the second person of the Trinity; since other references to this angel in the Old Testament clearly indicate that he is divine).
When that happens, David will be full of joy and everything within him will acknowledge gladly that the Lord delivers those who trust in him from powerful opponents (vv. 9-10).
In verses 11-12, David mentions the behaviour of his opponents to the Lord, which is how we should respond to trouble. They did this to him even although he had helped them in the past, showing sympathy to them in a public way (vv. 13-14). In contrast, they rejoiced when something adverse happened to him; they met together in a party spirit to speak fiercely against him (vv. 15-16). Yet while David was puzzled as to why the Lord seemed to be taking a long time to deliver him from their threats and actions, he knew by faith that he would yet participate in worshipping God with his people (vv. 17-18).
Nevertheless, he knew he had to persist in prayer about their behaviour, which was troubling not just him but others also in the land. Their false witness could only be dealt with by the Lord, and he appeals to his God for divine vindication (vv. 19-26). At the same time, he expressed his concern for God’s people who were distressed at what was happening to him. His deliverance by God would be a great encouragement to them (v. 27).
David knew from God’s promises to him about becoming king that he would yet be delivered from those who opposed him (whether in the time of Saul pursuing him or at a later stage). Those future fulfilments were an encouragement to him in the present. They gave him light on his future when he would be able to speak freely about his God and serve him without interruption (v. 28).
The psalm tells us that troubles will come to God’s people, but they should bring the troubles to him in prayer while reminding him and themselves of his great promises of deliverance, and to draw comfort by anticipating their fulfilment.
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