This is a gentle psalm with a muted tone, without cries for help or loud shouts of anguish. The psalmist is making a sincere and genuine appeal to God to answer his prayer. There are always enemies, but God is not asked to destroy them (a refreshing change!). He is only asked to ‘turn and take pity’ on the persecuted. The first seven verses form the perfect prayer. God could hardly resist it. The psalmist keeps asking and is rightly confident that such a God could never stop giving. He also appeals to God’s virtues, as shown in verse 16. It is a very simple, homely psalm.
Whenever we face moments of anguish, whatever causes them, it’s good for us to confide our burden in someone else, especially in God, whose presence in this psalm is comforting. Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:24, ‘Whatever you ask for in prayer, full of faith, you will receive.’ We have this promise from Jesus himself. So, full of faith, let us pray to God for whatever we need, confident that it will be given.