Seeking relief from hardship is often driven not merely by a desire for personal comfort, but by a deep yearning to clear one's heart and schedule to serve God. The primary approach among commentators is that the plea for rescue refers literally to escaping the harm of human enemies and oppressors who act out of their own free will [מלבי״ם]. Human oppression creates constant worries, obstacles, and disturbances that make it incredibly difficult to focus on spiritual duties. Once freed from pursuers, a person gains the free time and peace of mind necessary to keep God's laws without distraction [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, המאירי וביאור שטיינזלץ]. Furthermore, the very act of keeping these laws serves as a constant reminder of how God steps in to redeem His people from the hands of their oppressors [מלבי״ם].
Looking at the practical life of King David, this plea takes on a very specific meaning related to planned financial fraud. David had a practice of giving charity by personally paying off the debts of poor individuals who lost court cases. Because of his generosity, there was a real risk that dishonest people might conspire and stage fake trials simply to extract money from him. His prayer is a request to be saved from this specific type of moral exploitation, ensuring he can safely continue fulfilling the Commandment of giving charity to those who genuinely need it [חומת אנך].
Beyond the social and physical realm, other commentators move the focus to a purely spiritual and internal struggle. From this perspective, the oppressor is not a stranger at all, but rather the internal evil inclination that constantly torments and pressures a person [רש״י]. Taking this a step further, the source of this oppression can be traced back to the first man, Adam, and the original sin of eating from the Tree of Knowledge. That act is viewed as a form of theft, taking what did not belong to him. Because every sin creates a spiritual blockage that prevents a person from performing additional Commandments, the prayer is a desperate plea to be freed from the lingering influence of Adam's sin. By clearing away these deep spiritual obstacles, the path to serving God remains completely open and pure [אלשיך].