The fearless bravado of the young Bethlehem shepherd has long gone. Now he is Israel's king, David has to face threats far more personally draining that that of either the giant Philistine, Goliath or the lions who preyed on his father's sheep.

In these songs, David seems worn down by the stress of being Israel's king, and feels threatened from every side. Yet he knows to cry out to God, and genuinely believes that God can and will rescue him form whatever perilous situation he finds himself in.