He sent from above and took hold of me. He brought me out of abundant waters.
After the long and awe-inspiring description of the storm, the picture of deliverance becomes very personal: God “took hold of me” and “brought me out of many waters.” “Many waters” are an image of danger, distress, and destruction. David does not present himself as a man who is freed by his own strength, but as one whom the Lord Himself takes hold of and brings out of danger. Thus salvation is presented as the result of God’s grace and mighty intervention. He who in the previous verses was shown with power that shakes heaven and earth now personally intervenes in the life of His servant in order to save him. For the believer this is a great comfort: there can be situations when one’s own strength and abilities are not enough, yet the Lord’s power is not limited by our inability. The help that comes “from above” reminds us that the source of salvation is God. The believer is always called to rely on the Lord, and in those moments when one’s own strength and abilities become completely insufficient, it becomes even clearer that the true source of salvation is God. He is able to take hold, lift up, and deliver from “dangerous waters.”