I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people who have lain down all around me.
David’s fearlessness is not born from human self-confidence. He had already confessed the great number of enemies, yet after seeing God’s protection, their multitude was no longer decisive. The phrase “who have lain down all around me” portrays a complete encirclement. From a human perspective there was no way of escape, but faith saw the help that comes from above. This word does not mean that the believer does not sense danger or never experiences an assault of fear. It means that fear no longer rules him. The Lord’s presence becomes a greater reality than the number of opponents. In the spiritual life as well, a person can feel surrounded by temptations, accusations, and anxieties. At that moment the issue is not only counting the number of enemies, but remembering God’s power. When the Lord is the refuge, numerical superiority does not determine the final outcome.