PSALM 56
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust;
I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
5 All day long they injure my cause;
all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps,
as they have waited for my life.7 For their crime will they escape?
In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!
8 You have kept count of my tossings;
put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?
9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call.
This I know, that God is for me. – Psalm 56:3-9
PSALM 56 TRUST GOD WHEN YOU’RE AFRAID
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
In the midst of danger, God’s people know where to turn
They don’t rely on their understanding but run to God instead
They are aware of the power of the One who made all things
They keep their eyes on Jesus, the source of all strength
Trust the Lord even if you are overwhelmed; He’ll always be there
He will never leave or forsake you; he is always after your welfare.
David had many enemies wanting his head. We hear in this psalm that he is overwhelmed with fear. What do you do when you get into this kind of dilemma? Most of us, if I am being honest, would probably be so distressed and frozen to do anything. Maybe, depression would set in when we focus on the reasons why we are being hunted. Interestingly, David was a faithful king, but Saul’s jealousy paved the way for his life of running and living in caves. What did David do in these distressing and fearful times? Instead of wallowing in fear and pity for himself, he stood on the promises of God. I love how honest David was to cry out to God and tell the Lord all the things he is going through. Instead of complaining and grumbling, he recalls that God is aware of every detail that is happening in his life. He focuses on how much God loves him and recalled how God would keep count of all his enemies and store all his tears in a bottle. What intimate knowledge of his God! Do we have that kind of relationship with our Lord? Do we honestly declare our difficulties and humbly lay it down to God?
In this psalm, David prays for all the fear that he is going through. Instead, he runs to God and continues to faithfully trust in Him. Like a child to his father, he goes to the person who would know how to deal with his enemies and who is capable of protecting him. He declares his dependence on God in the most fearful and adverse times of his life.
REFLECTION
· Share a time when you were overwhelmed with fear and remembered to run to the Lord.
