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Trusting In God - Psalm 56
Trusting In God - Psalm 56
Derek Kidner said concerning this Psalm: To have fled from Saul to Gath of all places, the home town of Goliath, took the courage of despair; it measured David’s estimate of his standing with his people. And now this has failed, and he is doubly encircled. So far, his own followers were very few; the four hundred of 1 Samuel 22:10 were yet to be gathered. The psalm is the first of two which flowered from this crisis. It breaks through into thanksgiving at the end, which was to become the unclouded theme of Psalm 34.
When everything and everyone around fails you, what do you do? For David, the answer was to put all of his trust in God: "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You (vs. 3). In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid (vs. 4). In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid (vs. 11).
Such trust does not mean one can be foolish, live dangerously, or forsake all caution. In facing Goliath, he takes his slingshot. When Saul hurls a spear, he ducks. Before entering the presence of Saul, he checks with Jonathan concerning the safety of such action. When he learns of the plot to kill him on his bed, he forgoes sleeping in his bed. When his hideout is discovered, he moves. When he understands the danger of living among the Philistines, he shows himself to be crazy. His trust in God did not preclude him acting prudently, wisely, and righteously.
Such trust is more than believing that God exists; it is trust in the character and promises of God. Such trust showed itself in David by his 'walking before God' (vs. 13), trusting and praising His word (vs. 10), offering thank-offerings unto Him (vs. 12). In the midst of evil times, he trusts God and proclaims: "You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?" (Psalm 56:8).
When this phrase, "The Lord is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?" is repeated in Psalm 118:6, it is preceded four times with the statement: "His lovingkindness is everlasting" (Ps. 118:1, 2, 3, 4). In the face of persecution, slander, and travail, David holds on to his conviction that God know, cares, and loves him.
Now, notice that we as God's people are encouraged to the same faith: "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”" (Hebrews 13:5–6).
Our trust in God is to also be coupled with our uprightness of character! If we are trusting God, let us walk before Him in faith. Hugh DeLong
