In The Word
Read: Psalms 56-57
Pleading for Help and Grateful Trust in God.
For the music director; according to Jonath elem rehokim. A Mikhtam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.
56 Be gracious to me, God, for a man has trampled upon me;
Fighting all day long he oppresses me.
2 My enemies have trampled upon me all day long,
For they are many who fight proudly against me.
3 When I am afraid,
I will put my trust in You.
4 In God, whose word I praise,
In God I have put my trust;
I shall not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
5 All day long they distort my words;
All their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They attack, they lurk,
They watch my steps,
As they have waited to take my life.
7 Because of their wickedness, will there be an escape for them?
In anger make the peoples fall down, God!
8 You have taken account of my miseries;
Put my tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in Your book?
9 Then my enemies will turn back on the day when I call;
This I know, that God is for me.
10 In God, whose word I praise,
In the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid.
What can mankind do to me?
12 Your vows are binding upon me, God;
I will render thanksgiving offerings to You.
13 For You have saved my soul from death,
Indeed my feet from stumbling,
So that I may walk before God
In the light of the living.
Prayer for Rescue from Persecutors.
For the music director; set to Al-tashheth. A Mikhtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.
57 Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me,
For my soul takes refuge in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge
Until destruction passes by.
2 I will cry to God Most High,
To God who accomplishes all things for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me;
He rebukes the one who tramples upon me. Selah
God will send His favor and His truth.
4 My soul is among lions;
I must lie among those who devour,
Among sons of mankind whose teeth are spears and arrows,
And their tongue is a sharp sword.
5 Be exalted above the heavens, God;
May Your glory be above all the earth.
6 They have prepared a net for my steps;
My soul is bowed down;
They dug a pit before me;
They themselves have fallen into the midst of it. Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!
8 Awake, my glory!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
9 I will praise You, Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the nations.
10 For Your goodness is great to the heavens
And Your truth to the clouds.
11 Be exalted above the heavens, God;
May Your glory be above all the earth.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
David found himself in a desperate situation in front of Achish, King of Gath of the Philistines (I Samuel 21:10-11). King Achish’s servants reminded the king that this was David, the one who has killed his ten thousands of the Philistines. It is easy to say that you trust God, but what happens when you are afraid? What do you do?
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas find themselves in jail for doing what was right. They are stripped, beaten with rods and then thrown in the inner prison. What do they do? They are not having a pity party, they are not crying or worrying. Instead, they are praying and singing hymns of praise to God. Prayer, praise, and worship are antidotes for fear, depression, and grief!
David knew that God can accomplish all things and that He could send armies from heaven and save him. Paul and Silas also knew that God was in control. The Lord sent an earthquake that broke every chain and set them free. We must have the same kind of faith that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had. We need to remember that God will ultimately deliver us. At the same time, we must trust Him enough to be willing to do whatever He asks us to do. He sees and knows what we go through. No tear is ever wasted. Though He slay me, yet I will worship Him, and Him alone.