The psalms teach us to praise the Lord for things we normally would not. Israel has been attacked by and delivered from pagan nations, but there are more threats on the rise. David thanks God for what He has done and calls on Him to show mercy in the current distress. In his prayers we see world-changing confidence in God’s lordship over the nations. He directs this psalm to the Chief Musician, to the tune of Muth Laben which may have been written on the occasion of the death of a son.