In You My Soul Takes Refuge

David opens by begging for mercy and confessing that his soul takes refuge in God under the shadow of divine wings until disaster passes. From that place of hiding he cries to God Most High, trusting that God will fulfill his purpose for him and send saving help from heaven against those who taunt him.

F¹or the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul into the cave. ²I cry out to God Most High, ³He reaches down from heaven and saves me;

David describes himself as lying among lion-like attackers whose words are as sharp as weapons, yet he counters their hostility with the refrain that God be exalted above the heavens and his glory over all the earth. The enemies spread nets and dig pits to bring him down, but their schemes collapse back upon themselves.

⁴My soul is among the lions; ⁵Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; ⁶They spread a net for my feet;

With danger still real, David declares that his heart is steadfast and summons his whole being, along with harp and lyre, to awaken the dawn with praise. He vows to thank the Lord among the peoples because God's steadfast love reaches to the heavens and his faithfulness to the clouds, and he closes by repeating the call for God to be exalted above the heavens and over all the earth.

⁷My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. ⁸Awake, my glory! ⁹I will praise You, O Lord, among the nations; ¹⁰For Your loving devotion reaches to the heavens, ¹¹Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;