What does Psalm 54:4 mean?

David expresses confidence in the Lord to help him and to keep him alive. This is part of David's response to betrayal and persecution. The people of Ziph turned on David and told king Saul where to find him (1 Samuel 23:19–20). This forced David to flee to a new headquarters (1 Samuel 23:23–25). David prayed for rescue (Psalm 54:1–3), and fully expected the Lord to spare his life.

The word "helper" in this verse is related to a word used in the book of 1 Samuel. The Israelites asked the prophet Samuel to pray so the Lord would deliver them from the approaching Philistine army. In response, Samuel sacrificed a nursing lamb to the Lord as a burnt offering and prayed (1 Samuel 7:1–9). The Lord answered with such a thunderous sound that the Philistines panicked and lost the battle (1 Samuel 7:10–11). Samuel commemorated the event by setting up a memorial stone and called it e'ben hā āzer, or Ebenezer, meaning "stone of help" (1 Samuel 7:12). In this Psalm, David uses the root word 'azar when referring to the Lord as his "help" or "helper."

David was grateful for the Lord's assistance. He knew he was alive only because the Lord was providing him with aid. Confidence in God led David to a sense of calm assurance. In Romans 8:31 Paul writes, "What then shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"