The overall feel of this psalm is confident trust in God: 1) A prayer for protection. 2) A worshipful acknowledgment of God. 3)Contentment with God blessings.
A miktam of David. Here and in Psalms 56-60 is where this musical term is used. The term “miktam” is unexplained, though it always stands in the superscription of Davidic prayers occasioned by great danger. This psalm is a prayer that the Lord will protect him from his enemies, as in verses 1-6.
verse 6 the lines have fallen unto me in pleasant places. (KJV)
the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places. (NIV)
verses. 7 -11 are verses. of praise and satisfaction.
v.1 “Keep me safe…” Sometimes we are aware of the surrounding dangers, sometime unaware. Sometimes we are protected from danger and it appears as a frustrating interruption. I remember one such time my sister and I went on a road trip with our father in a late model, low mileage vehicle. Though I was very young I remember my father, a very patient man, becoming frustrated as the vehicle kept dying. Dad was a good mechanic but I remember him saying, “Oh, I just can’t figure out what is going on with this thing.” Short and to the point… someone was seeking my Dad’s life. Mom was at home praying. God was keeping us safe.
- 7 David says, “I will praise the Lord who counsels me- . .” I know the feeling. But sometimes I think we forget it. The Lord is our counselor, if we just pour our hearts out to him.
This psalm has been known as The Song of Satisfaction.
- 10 is quoted in Acts 13:35 (ESV) Therefore he says also in another psalm,
“ ‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’