(7) In the day of battle.--Literally, in the day of arms, i.e., when he was arming for fight. God covered the warrior's head, i.e., provided the "helmet of salvation" (Isaiah 59:17). (Comp. also Psalm 60:9 : "Strength of my head.") Others, however, follow the LXX. and Authorised Version in understanding by "day of arms" the day of battle.

Verse 7. - O God the Lord. In the Hebrew, "Jehovah Adonai" - a comparatively rare address. The strength of my salvation. The solid strength upon which I ground all my hopes of salvation (comp. Psalm 89:26). Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. In past combats thou hast protected me, as with a shield (Psalm 18:2; Psalm 33:20), wherefore I put the greater trust in thee for the future. The "head" is mentioned as one of the chief vital parts.

140:1-7 The more danger appears, the more earnest we should be in prayer to God. All are safe whom the Lord protects. If he be for us, who can be against us? We should especially watch and pray, that the Lord would hold up our goings in his ways, that our footsteps slip not. God is as able to keep his people from secret fraud as from open force; and the experience we have had of his power and care, in dangers of one kind, may encourage us to depend upon him in other dangers.O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation,.... Temporal and spiritual, which he was able to effect; the mighty God and mighty Saviour: and this encouraged David to believe he should have deliverance; and this secured, confirmed, and established it to him; and to which he was the more induced by what experience he had had of the divine goodness to him, as follows:

thou hast covered my head in the day of battle; with the helmet of salvation, as Kimchi, Aben Ezra, and Arama observe; which, in a spiritual sense, is to a believer the hope of salvation, Ephesians 6:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:8; a defensive weapon to him; and protects him while he is engaging with his spiritual enemies in this his state of warfare, sin, Satan, and the world. Perhaps David may have respect to the divine protection of him, when he fought with Goliath. Salvation was Christ's helmet, when he engaged with all his and our enemies; even with all the powers of darkness, and obtained deliverance for us, Isaiah 59:16.