Ps 40 11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD ;may your love and your truth always protect me.12 For troubles without number surround me;my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.They are more than the hairs of my head,and my heart fails within me.13 Be pleased, O LORD , to save me;O LORD , come quickly to help me.

We are saved by grace. But after we are saved we must go from one deliverance to another. The question is "What are we being saved from?' Does the Psalmist teach that we are being saved because we sin less? Is the Psalmist teaching that we should hate sin and Satan but never hate the wicked? Some people teach that temptation originates in us that is initiated by Satan. It is very important that we understand the terms of the battle. Unless we put the evil in the context of our relationships in this world then we will be fighting phantom powers that come from invisible forces. But the Psalmist teaches that our trouble is not directly from Satan. In fact the Psalmist never mentions Satan. When the bible says that we do not wrestle with flesh and blood it is not teaching that we are opposed by invisible forces in a personal battle with Satan.

In order for Satan to accomplish his goal , he must have real people do evil to us. The Psalmist does not pray against phantom forces of the evil spirits. He curses the wicked who are being used by Satan to oppose salvation.14  May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion;may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.15 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!"be appalled at their own shame.The Psalmist is not teaching that he is failing because he is sinning more. The opposition to salvation comes from evil men who accuse Gods elect. We live in a real world and fight against real enemies. He is teaching that we are continuously being delivered from evil man as we experience ongoing salvation. When we make sin our chief enemy we turn our eyes inward. We are trying to fight phantom forces. But the Psalmist teaches that we are fighting against real men who communicate real threats.