תהלים, פרק קכ״ד, פסוק ב׳

The survival of the people of Israel against those who seek their destruction is a continuous historical reality that relies entirely on Divine providence. Time and time again throughout history, salvation has come from God, who has always stood firmly by His people [אבן עזרא, רד״ק].

This Divine protection becomes most evident during the terrifying moments when adversaries rise up with the intent to fight, humiliate, kill, and completely destroy the nation [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Such threats have been particularly severe during periods of exile, when the people are at their most vulnerable [רד״ק]. The attackers are sometimes understood to be a large, collective group of enemies joining forces [אבן עזרא]. Alternatively, the threat can stem from a single, specific individual, such as Haman during the exile in Media. The danger in these situations is immense because it comes from a human being exercising free will to do evil. When faced with such profound human malice, only God has the power to deliver His people from their hands [אלשיך].

However, this Divine intervention does not occur in a vacuum. God's salvation is brought about by the genuine trust the people place in Him. These two vital components must exist together: the nation's steadfast faith in God and His active help in response. Without both of these elements, the people of Israel would have faced complete physical annihilation [מלבי״ם].