Commentators explain that the verse uses powerful metaphors to describe God's protection. He is a 'stronghold' against attack, a 'refuge' from the 'storm' of calamity, and a 'shade' from the 'heat' of oppression. The 'blast of the terrible ones' is likened to a violent tempest beating against a wall, emphasizing the ferocity of the threats God's people face and the security He provides.