6 I have called upon You, for You will answer me, O God;
Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.
7 Wondrously show Your lovingkindness,
O Savior of those who take refuge [d]at Your right hand
From those who rise up against them.
8 Keep me as [e]the apple of the eye;
Hide me in the shadow of Your wings
9 From the wicked who despoil me,
My deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They have closed their [f]unfeeling heart,
With their mouth they speak proudly.
11 They have now surrounded us in our steps;
They set their eyes to cast us down to the ground.
12 He is like a lion that is eager to tear,
And as a young lion lurking in hiding places.13 Arise, O Lord, confront him, bring him low;
Deliver my soul from the wicked with Your sword,
14 From men with Your hand, O Lord,
From men [g]of the world, whose portion is in this life,
And whose belly You fill with Your treasure;
They are satisfied with children,
And leave their abundance to their babes.
15 As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness;
I will be satisfied [h]with Your likeness when I awake.
Like David, we may be surrounded by wicked people who want to do us harm. Yet as we see in vv. 6-7, when we call out to God, he always hears us, and we can take refuge in his hand. Does that mean no one can harm us in this life? Not so much, as we see David emphasize a fact that is easily forgotten in the later verses.
Once he is done describing the wicked and their treachery, David makes an apt contrast between those who trust in God and the “wicked”men of the world” who trust in their own strength. For the latter, their reward is in this life alone, and David goes so far as to say that God gives them treasure. Yet it is a treasure that does not last, and which they cannot keep forever. It is a fleeting reward, and the result of vain ambition.
For those who trust in the Lord, there is a different story, and an eternal destiny. It is a future spent with our Creator himself, beholding His face. Like David, we can put away shortsightedness and look to the future where we will awake from death and be so very content when we behold his likeness face to face. Though we “see in a mirror” a poor reflection of that glory on this earth, our hope and trust is not of this world. It is in Christ alone, who has called us and set us apart to do good works, to do His works. That is a calling and a destiny to far surpass any earthly gain.