The cords of death surrounded me, and the floods of destruction terrified me.
David describes his former danger with two strong images: the cords of death and the torrents of destruction. A cord restricts movement, and a torrent can suddenly sweep a person away with it. These images express a condition in which, by one’s own strength, a way of deliverance is hardly visible. Faith does not force David to downplay the fear he went through. He honestly says that he was terrified. This is important for those who think that feeling fear is always unbelief. Fear can be a natural response to real danger. The question is where we take that fear. David takes it before God. A believer too may feel as if he is in cords or in a torrent because of illness, persecution, or other pressure. In that moment, calling on the Lord is a living step of faith.