This Psalm was written by David, and he wrote it after the Lord delivered him from King Saul. Saul was his enemy, but David trusted the Lord to keep him safe. This Psalm is a prayer, expressing the care that David found in the Lord during his trials.
In the first verse, David expressed his love for the Lord, and his desire to depend on Him. He then gives us a list of what the Lord was to him.
My Rock – In Matthew 7, the Lord compares those who follow His teachings to those who build their houses on a rock foundation. Rocks are strong, stable, and represent things that never change. Hebrews 13:8 tells us that the Lord doesn’t change; He is the rock on which we can build our lives.
My Fortress – A fortress is a place of safety. David could turn to the Lord for safety. We can ask the Lord to keep us safe both physically and spiritually, because our enemy, Satan, is out to destroy us.
My Deliverer – A deliverer is like a Saviour. The Lord can save our souls, but He also saves our lives from getting off track while we live here on Earth. Then, at the Rapture, He will save our bodies as He takes us to glory. David says that the Lord was his Deliverer.
My God - David knew that God controls everything: He is sovereign. Romans 8:28. God works everything for His own purposes, including all of David’s circumstances, and all of ours. We don’t always understand everything that happens to us, but everything is part of God’s plan. That included David running from his enemies.
My Strength – Paul suffered many things as he traveled and preached the Gospel but found strength in the Lord. When we feel weak, we too can turn to the Lord. II Corinthians 12:9. When weak, Paul looked to the Lord to give Him strength.
My Buckler – A buckler is a shield. David looked to the Lord to protect Him. There are many stories of missionaries who experienced God’s miraculous protection (sometimes using angels!) from hostile people. There was also a time when a group of forty choir singers were all separately delayed in getting to practice. A few minutes after they were supposed to meet, their building burst into flames from a gas leak. God had protected them! Sometimes we experience delays, but really, it’s the Lord protecting us.
The Horn of My Salvation – A horn on an animal represents strength. Our salvation is secure and forever; nothing can take it away. John 6:38. Jesus will lose none of those that trust in Him. We can’t lose our salvation; it is strong and secure.
My High Tower – A tower would have been a place of refuge and rest; a place to reload and fight your enemies. It would have held the supplies you needed to fight. It’s like having a fort for a snowball fight. David turned to the Lord for help against his enemies.
David praised the Lord because He kept him safe and helped fight his enemies, and we can pray and look to the Lord for help with our lives each day.