Over against the pride of the adversaries, the author’s confidence in the Lord resounds. He is so strong that he can laugh about the boasts of bloodthirsty men. God is his fortress, his impregnable castle. God holds all the nations in derision. Again, the gaze is focused on the immediate surroundings: the enemies of today and the nations who do not bow before the Lord, the almighty God. God rises above all of them. That is why the author knows himself to be safe. You are my strength. I am holding on to you, my strong fortress.
The Psalm closes with that image in Psalm 59:17, my fortress.
The author uses military language and images from the battlefield, but goes to God’s throne in prayer. He counts on God’s protection. His concern, from an early age, is the name of the Lord. For example, think of his battle with Goliath; in 1 Samuel 17:26 we read, who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
And in 1 Samuel 17:45 David says to Goliath, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”
Jesus promises the church in Philadelphia (Revelation 3:9) that adversaries, people who belong to Satan, will come to church and admit that Jesus loves the church. This is how strong and caring the Lord is of the church. The enemy understands this. At the same time, the spiritual battle continues (see John 16:2 where the disciples are told to count on enmity: They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.
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8 But you, O LORD, laugh at them; you hold all the nations in derision.