Psalm 18:1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,
my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
so I shall be saved from my enemies.

4 The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of perdition assailed me;
5 the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.

6 In my distress I called upon the LORD;
to my God I cried for help.
From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.

This is a great psalm that, to my eyes, seems to have been written in stages. In v.1-3 David recalls God’s faithfulness in times past using names for God such as rock, fortress, deliverer, and so on. Based on this experience he speaks with confidence at the end of v.3  “so I shall be saved from my enemies”. Salvation has not yet come, but David is sure it will because God is faithful.

Then v.4-5 tell us that his situation was perilous. It’s as if he might not make it. But then there’s v.6 “From his temple God heard my voice…” David’s faith in God was rewarded with deliverance from evil and evildoers.

I cannot count the number of times that God has come to my aid, strengthened me, gotten me through tough situations. Yet in truth I still waver in my faith. Fear gets the best of me and I doubt. God has been good to me in the past – but what about now? I’m not proud of this, but it’s true.

Lord, as much as I want to trust you without reservation I often fail to do so. Forgive me for my lack of faith and reveal your salvation to me despite my weakness. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.