As in Psalm 58, in Psalm 59 David again envisions his enemies as animals. King Saul had sent his men to watch David's house so that they might kill him. David describes these lurking, bloodthirsty, would-be assassins, as wild dogs: howling, prowling, and growling (v. 6-7, 14-15). David, however, is confident in the Lord's care for him. The Lord is his refuge, his fortress, and his strength (v. 9-10, 16-17).
Lord, time after time David faces danger after danger, often at the hand of his own king. Perhaps we know what it is like to go from trial to trial, or to have someone hold a grudge against us that they come after us time after time, or to feel like we're always under attack. Lord, we pray: come to our defense! Help us in the midst of our trials. Let not the wild dogs around us prevail and overtake us. Be our refuge, our fortress, and our strength.
Like David, grant that our confidence might not be in our own strength, but in yours. Rather, let our confidence be in your steadfast love for us. Never will you leave us. Never will you forsake us. Even when the dogs gather in packs, surround us, wait for us, and howl and growl with hunger. David imagines you laughing at his enemies, because truly they are no match for you. God, you are our refuge, our fortress, and our strength. We will sing of your love forever! Amen.
