⁶ I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
    incline your ear to me; hear my words.
⁷ Wondrously show^[a] your steadfast love,
    O Savior of those who seek refuge
    from their adversaries at your right hand.

⁸ Keep me as the apple of your eye;
    hide me in the shadow of your wings,
⁹ from the wicked who do me violence,
    my deadly enemies who surround me. Psalm 17:6-9

In reading this cry for deliverance from David I cannot help but think of Paul’s words to the Romans in chapter 10 verse 13, “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”. Imagine being trapped in a deep pit with no way out. Even if there was a way you could not make it because your arms and legs are broken. You have no idea if anyone is nearby to hear your cries for help. You are helpless and facing eventual death in that pit. Your cry out time and again to no avail when suddenly you hear a voice and then a face appears above you and a rope is lowered as your rescuer descends into the pit, secures your to the rope and eventually lifts you out of the pit.

David is crying out for such deliverance and he is confident of receiving it because of the Lord’s steadfast love. You and I cry out for deliverance as well and when we call upon the Name of the Lord he answers. Jesus descended from on high into the pit of human existence in order to rescue us when we were completely and utterly incapable of rescuing ourselves. Our only recourse is to call on Him and receive the deliverance He provides through His death and resurrection. That deliverance is from our ultimate enemy, death, and from our enemy the Devil who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy. But the Lord shelters us in the shadow of His wings and pours His love upon us.