Can you believe this Psalm? In what way are we to understand it? It seems such a wonderful guarantee of a trouble-free life, and yet it is hard to think of anyone for whom it is true.

But on closer reading it is not describing a trouble-free life at all. Quite the contrary. The Psalm seems to be an encouragement to people who are surrounded by dangers and troubles: from kidnappers, epidemics, night terrors, civil conflict, rampant disease, dangerous animals and more.

Notice the verbs of encouragement: he will deliver, he will cover, you will not fear, you will see the punishment, angels will guard you, bear you up...

They are words about helping and rescuing, for people in trouble. But how quickly will he act? How many times will he allow these things to happen?  Jesus thought God would come to the help of his people with speed (Luke 18.7). But he also doubted that when the Son of Man returned there would be much faith on the earth (Luke 18.8). Troubles keep coming, so the person who trusts God has to keep on calling out to God for help.

The Psalmist encouraged the readers to live in the presence of the Most High where there was shelter; to keep on saying to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.’ The people of God who are in danger are to make the Lord their refuge, the Most high their dwelling place (v9), they are to love him and call to him.

Continuing to trust, and persisting in calling out to God requires perseverance. It is easy to give up, easy to take revenge ourselves, easy to look for other safety nets. But the safety and long life is only found in the presence of the Most High.

But does it work in practice? Who are the people who have found it to be true?

Job? Perhaps in one way Job found this to be true. The rescue did not seem very fast, and he did lose much, but he stayed where God was and argued with God, until in the end he saw God and was content.

Jesus? The devil encouraged Jesus to try out this Psalm by jumping off the top of the Temple. Jesus knew that the Psalm wasn't referring to that kind of self-focussed grand-standing (although Mark tells us there were both wild animals and angels with Jesus during the temptation). But what about when he was arrested?  Jesus certainly thought that the Father could send him thousands of angels if he asked (Matt 26.53). But he did not ask, in order that the scriptures would be fulfilled.

Jesus suffering lights up another aspect of life which we need to place alongside this Psalm. Peter thought that Jesus left us an example of how to suffer (1 Peter 2.21ff). Paul thought there were some advantages in suffering, that he was strongest when he was weak, because then the power of God was brought to its full effect (2 Cor 12.9).

In each of these lives the trouble was still temporary. There was the confident hope that God would rescue them. In Paul's case he was rescued on many occasions from hostile crowds or situations. So was Jesus for that matter. It is when we come to the death of Jesus that we see this Psalm being put to the greatest test. And God does what the Psalm promised: he raises him from the grave. On the basis of this Paul can assure those who belong to Jesus that nothing will ever be able to separate them from the love of God either (Rom 8.31ff).

So we can believe it:

When they call to me, I will answer them;
I will be with them in trouble,
I will rescue them and honour them.
With long life I will satisfy them,
and show them my salvation.

Dale