Journey through the Psalms: A 7-Day DevotionalSample

Strength, Shield, and Shepherd

A cry for help. At times that’s the only way we can pray. Some trouble we’ve been dealing with takes a turn for the worse, or a brand-new crisis breaks over our life in the course of a single day, an hour, a phone call. When that happens, when we are suddenly and utterly overwhelmed, God is there. Our new crisis is not new to God, so we can simply cry out for help. That’s exactly what David does as he prays for deliverance and for a divinely imposed barrier on the evil coming against him (vv. 1–5). Even before the answer comes, David is confident that God has heard him and will provide the deliverance he needs, because God is the protector of his people (vv. 6–9).

David’s prayer for God’s people, “Be their shepherd and carry them forever” (v. 9), has been fully and finally answered in the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who laid down his life for his sheep (John 10:11). In his care, we are safe. “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Heb. 13:20–21).