The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? (Psalm 27:1)

If there is one thing Christians know about, it is salvation. The word occurs about 400 times in the Bible (either in the form “salvation” or “saved”). It is popularly used today as a catch-all for the entirety of our identity for eternity. A Christian says, “I am saved,” making a clear, definitive statement of one’s status that separates him or her from those who are not “saved.” Some even refer to the lost as those who are “not yet saved” (which might be an inadvertent tip of the hat to universalism). Theologically, related words include redeemed, regenerated, propitiated, forgiven, elect, transformed, made alive, quickened—all in addition to salvation. We are all of these things.

When David used the term “salvation” he was thinking in more practical terms. A good interpretative practice when coming across the word “salvation” or “saved” in the Bible is to ask, “Saved from what?” At times, it means to be spiritually saved from condemnation for our sins, from an eternity in hell. But at other times, like in our passage above, it refers to physical salvation.

Just as God as our refuge, He is our salvation. That means no matter what situation in which I find myself, I am in good hands with God. While the particular circumstances may obscure the promise implied in this verse, faith leads us to believe it completely, without needing to dictate to God the nature of our salvation in the situation. His salvation might be keeping me from falling into ungodly responses to those who would oppose or harm me, or enabling me to love my enemies while they are persecuting me. It may mean He holds us up so that we would endure the struggle in Christ’s name.

There are many ways God can defend us. The greatest is found in the New Testament: “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous …” (1 John 2:1). We can have confidence that our trust in God as our salvation may not save us from every earthly difficulty, but we believe and count on Jesus’ advocacy to the Father on our behalf. Though we still sin, we are saved from the accusation of the enemy of our soul. I have absolutely nothing to fear. If God is for me, who can be against me?!

It was because he knew God as “my salvation” that David could counsel his own soul: “Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD” (Ps 27:14).

Lord, I pray that You will save me in the midst of the difficulty I am facing right now. Whether that is saving me out of it or raising me above it, I trust in You.