Praising, I will call upon the Lord: and I shall be saved from my enemies.
מְ֭הֻלָּל אֶקְרָ֣א יְהוָ֑ה וּמִן־אֹ֝יְבַ֗י אִוָּשֵֽׁעַ׃
9 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 10 commentaries
Call to Worship You are invited to do one thing: call forth praise, specifically to the Lord. For if you exalt yourself, deliverance from your adversaries will not come. When you call upon the Lord in adoration, you shall be rescued from your foes.
In pursuit of the glory of the Lord rather than my own, I will invoke His name, and there will be no way for the mistakes of evil to affect me.
From this, we understand the importance of expressing gratitude for the blessings we have received and seeking additional grace for our needs. David then recounts the different insurrections of the adversary.
From this, we understand the importance of expressing our thankfulness for the blessings we have received and seeking further assistance for our needs. The prophet states that by doing so, I will triumph over those who oppose me. He then outlines the different insurrections of his adversaries.
The Lord revealed His assistance to the prophet in diverse ways, just as the prophet employed varied expressions in his praises to God, as we have noted. By adding these remarks to his previous statements, the prophet seeks to clarify his intent: he does not intend to list the numerous and significant blessings bestowed upon him, as someone who felt no need for divine aid might. Instead, by acknowledging these blessings, he aims to exalt the Lord, to glorify His holy name, and to demonstrate his fervor for God. Throughout my life, I will call upon the Lord for support. I place my confidence in Him, as the prophet affirms, "I shall be saved from my enemies" (Psalm 17:3).
While I may currently be free from those who have wronged me, it is possible that new adversaries may arise, as is often the case in life. The prophet then shifts his tone in the psalm, reflecting on the various threats he faced and considering the many ways God cared for him, which enveloped him throughout his existence. In this reflection, the prophet employs figurative language to enhance his description and understanding of these matters.
He is my sanctuary, He is my Savior. Through worshiping and invoking Him, I will find salvation from those who oppose me.
With the support of this protective shield, he, in his youth, triumphed over the formidable and heavily armed giant Goliath, consistently returning home victorious over adversaries.
In the world, we observe that warriors protect themselves against the arrows of their foes. Believer! Our existence mirrors a constant struggle, a confrontation with numerous adversaries. We must contend with the devil and his minions, the desires of the flesh, the malign world around us, deceptive brethren, and both hidden and overt enemies. The warfare is relentless and daunting. What protection can we employ to guard ourselves against the assaults of our enemies on that fateful day? The sacred Scriptures guide us to place our faith in God and invoke His name, while the lives of all the saints reflect this truth. True Christians turn to this refuge in times of distress, shielding themselves from the enemy’s onslaught.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble; therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea" (Psalm 46:1-2). "In You our fathers trusted; they trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You and were saved; in You they trusted and were not put to shame" (Psalm 22:5-6). "O Lord, You are our dwelling place in all generations" (Psalm 90:1). With this shield, our patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob stood firm, as it is written, "He allowed no one to oppress them; He rebuked kings for their sake" (1 Chronicles 16:21). Under this divine protection, Joseph remained unscathed, both in spirit and body, untouched by the arrows of temptation and hardship aimed at him. The Israelites were shielded when they departed Egypt, spared from the wrath of Pharaoh and the foes they encountered en route, safeguarded under this cover amidst their many trials in the promised land. "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side,” let Israel declare, “if it had not been the Lord who was on our side when men rose up against us, they would have swallowed us alive; when their anger was kindled against us, the waters would have overwhelmed us" (Psalm 124:1-4). King David, the shepherd of Israel, faced all his adversaries, stating, "All nations surrounded me; in the name of the Lord I will cut them off. They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the Lord I will cut them off" (Psalm 118:10-12). The prophets, apostles, saints, martyrs, the holy hermits, and all those who have sought the pleasure of God throughout the ages have found refuge under this shield, sustaining themselves through various trials, tribulations, and sufferings. Modern Christians, too, find solace in this reliable and formidable shield, confronting the enemy’s threats with song: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble… The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress" (Psalm 46:1, 7). "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:31-32). St. Paul triumphed over the depths of hell and the forces of evil, embodying a soul devoted to God. Beloved believer! The adversary and all malicious spirits unleash their fierce wrath upon humanity, especially targeting the faithful, encircling them stealthily like beasts in the night, launching mischief against them through false Christians and other wicked individuals who act as their agents. Who could withstand their accusations and attacks were it not for the Lord’s protection with His goodness and the shelter of His merciful wings? Truly, one would be lost in an instant. The words of David regarding old Israel’s safety ring true for the new Israel, the Christians. Without divine presence and guidance, we would have surely fallen before our enemies. "Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth" (Psalm 124:6). Thus, we recognize the futility of trusting anything but God. Human support is frail, and every other source is a deceptive shield. Therefore, casting aside all else, we turn to this steadfast and invincible refuge. "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man; it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes" (Psalm 118:8-9). Some may choose to defend themselves using cleverness and deceit, while others rely on gold, silver, and worldly privileges, or seek assistance from the powerful. But all these defenses are ultimately false and unreliable. Their hopes will lead to disappointment, whereas we will arm ourselves with the name of the Lord and will not be put to shame. Look, believer, let your allegiance be solely to God, and His name will shield you from every assault from the enemy. "I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies" (Psalm 18:1-3). "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me" (Psalm 23:4). "You are my hiding place from the trouble that has come upon me; You will surround me with songs of deliverance" (Psalm 32:7). "You are my strength; to You I will sing praise, for You, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love" (Psalm 59:17). When a believer is enveloped in God’s grace and enjoys the aid and protection of the Most High, no matter how fierce and malevolent all the evil men, the forces of nature, the world, and the very powers of hell may act against him, no misfortune will prevail. For God is mightier than all, holding him securely in His all-powerful right hand, watching over him and preserving him. Fear not, devoted soul. "He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you" (Psalm 91:3-7). This encapsulates the teachings of the entire psalm.
While the act of invoking God is central to a life that honors Him, the Prophet emphasizes it here not as a final thought, but as a continuation of his earlier intention. He declares that for all the blessings he has received, he will continually offer praise to God and will persistently call upon His name throughout his life, thereby gaining victory over his adversaries. In alignment with this, Paul encourages believers to present their requests to God through prayer and supplication, accompanied by gratitude (Phil. 4:6).
Express gratitude for all things, and approach God through faith and righteousness; you will be liberated from both physical and spiritual adversaries.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS