Scary times for David in our Psalms today, keeping in mind here that David is being pursued by his enemies who are ready to devour him like a wild animal

Psa 17:11  They have now surrounded us in our steps; They set their eyes to cast us down to the ground.

Psa 17:12  He is like a lion that is eager to tear, And as a young lion lurking in hiding places.

…so David is surrounded, has no where else to go, he is in the proverbial lion’s den or belly of the beast, there is no where to turn but up to God and that is when David asks God to save Him:

Psa 17:13  Arise, O LORD, confront him, bring him low; Deliver my soul from the wicked with Your sword,

David is fully assured that God can and will humble David’s adversaries, another Bible story that gives us a similar narrative is Daniel in the lion’s den, God was with Daniel then and Daniel spent the whole night with ferocious lion’s, but God wouldn’t allow the lions to eat Daniel, after King Darius saw Daniel being spared by God, Darius sends Daniel’s accusers and their families into the lion’s den and they are devoured before they even land on the ground.  A great example of God delivering His children’s soul from the wicked with His mighty sword.