Fear of Circumstances (vv. 1-6). David didn’t close his eyes to the circumstances around him; rather, he looked by faith to the Lord and examined his circumstances from heaven’s point of view (Heb. 12:1-3). The Lord was everything he needed just as He is everything we need today. He is our light, so we need not fear because of darkness; He is our strength (or stronghold; see 18:2; 31:2-3), so we need not fear because of our weakness; and He is our salvation, so the victory is sure. This is the first time in Scripture that light is used as a metaphor for God (see John 1:4, 9; 8:12; 1 John 1:5-7; Rev. 21:23), although in many texts He is associated with the light (4:6; 18:28; 43:3; 84:11; Isa. 10:17; 60:1, 20; Mic. 7:8). David didn’t know if the enemy would make a sudden attack, like a beast devouring its prey (v. 2; see 1 Sam. 17:43-47), or settle down for a long siege (v. 3a), or at a propitious time declare war and attack (v. 3b). No matter what the tactics might be, the enemy didn’t frighten David. “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31).

The secret of David’s public confidence was his private obedience: He took time to fellowship with the Lord and get directions from Him. David knew that the most important part of his life was the part that only God could see, and this was one priority he would not negotiate. David was living in the wilderness of Judea, away from the sanctuary of the Lord, but he was still able to enter into fellowship with his God. God’s house was but a tent (vv. 5-6), for the temple had not yet been built, but it was still referred to as “God’s temple” (see 1 Sam. 1:9; 3:3). The imagery in verses 4-6 is the Old Testament equivalent of “abiding in Christ” (John 15:1-8). In the ancient Near East, when a visitor entered his host’s tent, the host was personally responsible for his protection and provision, and the flimsy tent became a fortress. The word beauty in verse 4 means not only the glory of God’s character but also the richness of His goodness and favor to His people (16:11; 90:17; 135:3). David took time to meditate and to contemplate the wonders of God’s grace. He came away from his times of worship feeling the rock under his feet and seeing above and beyond the enemy to the victory God had prepared. No wonder he vowed to God that, when he returned to Jerusalem, he would bring thank offerings to Him and joyfully worship Him.