IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

The Lord is My Fortress

Date: Sep. 3, 2026

Passage

Psalm 59:1-17

Deliver Me from My Enemies

To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him.

59:1   Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
    protect me from those who rise up against me;
  deliver me from those who work evil,
    and save me from bloodthirsty men.
  For behold, they lie in wait for my life;
    fierce men stir up strife against me.
  For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD,
    for no fault of mine, they run and make ready.
  Awake, come to meet me, and see!
    You, LORD God of hosts, are God of Israel.
  Rouse yourself to punish all the nations;
    spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah
  Each evening they come back,
    howling like dogs
    and prowling about the city.
  There they are, bellowing with their mouths
    with swords in their lips—
    for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?”
  But you, O LORD, laugh at them;
    you hold all the nations in derision.
  O my Strength, I will watch for you,
    for you, O God, are my fortress.
10   My God in his steadfast love will meet me;
    God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.
11   Kill them not, lest my people forget;
    make them totter by your power and bring them down,
    O Lord, our shield!
12   For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,
    let them be trapped in their pride.
  For the cursing and lies that they utter,
13     consume them in wrath;
    consume them till they are no more,
  that they may know that God rules over Jacob
    to the ends of the earth. Selah
14   Each evening they come back,
    howling like dogs
    and prowling about the city.
15   They wander about for food
    and growl if they do not get their fill.
16   But I will sing of your strength;
    I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
  For you have been to me a fortress
    and a refuge in the day of my distress.
17   O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
    for you, O God, are my fortress,
    the God who shows me steadfast love.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Psalm 59:16

But I will sing of your strength;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
and a refuge in the day of my distress.

We often liken our hardships to being chased. In this psalm, David was quite literally being chased by evil and bloodthirsty men. Followers of Christ are not immune from difficulties and threats; Scripture tells us that those with biblical faith will be tested (James 1:2-4).

In life-threatening circumstances, David looked to God. His heart is troubled and he cries out to God in this psalm. However, he is not bitter because of the trouble, nor does he blame God for it. He knows that God is not punishing him (3), and he trusts in the Lord who is able to rescue him and bring justice. Although his hardship has not yet been resolved, he hopes and trusts in the Lord who has been his fortress thus far. In our own difficulties, let us trust God as David did. Let us praise him for his protection and provision.

Prayer: Father, thank you for being my fortress and refuge in times of trouble. Please help me to rely on you and sing praises to you when I am vulnerable and helpless.

One Word: God is my fortress on whom I can rely

Daily Bread

God Gives Us Victory

Psalm 60:1-12

Key Verse: 60:12

With God we shall do valiantly;
it is he who will tread down our foes.

Read More

Intro Daily

Today's Question

What benefits in this life go with or come from justification, adoption, and sanctification?

See answer and references