#736 When I Am Afraid Psalm 56

Be merciful to me, my God,

for my enemies are in hot pursuit;

all day long they press their attack.

2 My adversaries pursue me all day long;

in their pride many are attacking me.

3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

4 In God, whose word I praise—

in God I trust and am not afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me?

5 All day long they twist my words;

all their schemes are for my ruin.

6 They conspire, they lurk,

they watch my steps,

hoping to take my life.

7 Because of their wickedness do not let them escape;

in your anger, God, bring the nations down.

8 Record my misery;

list my tears on your scroll—

are they not in your record?

9 Then my enemies will turn back

when I call for help.

By this I will know that God is for me.

10 In God, whose word I praise,

in the Lord, whose word I praise—

11 in God I trust and am not afraid.

What can man do to me?

12 I am under vows to you, my God;

I will present my thank offerings to you.

13 For you have delivered me from death

and my feet from stumbling,

that I may walk before God

in the light of life. Psalm 56

This is a song regarding the time that David was captured by the Philistines at Gath. It is called a Michtam of David and the word usually means golden, maybe in this case his performance, like the beginning of films in the theater where it is written "silence is golden." I am not sure the use of the word here, but this is the time when David acted as a mad man, who had lost his mind and was unable to give a clear account for himself. He was wearing the sword of Goliath, which would back up his drama, for what idiot would do such a thing, alone in the land of the enemy from whence he won this sword? 

The account in 1 Samuel 21 #431

 Be merciful to me - I ask the same thing because surely there is nothing that I have done that makes me redeemable. It was me, after all, who has put my own life in jeopardy so many times, and it is the same for all of us ultimately, that all we have to hope in is mercy, and that not by our merit. When I look back upon so many situations, they are not things I could duplicate for the probability would be so much against my survival. How many times I took my life not only for granted, but also quite brazenly against reason, I placed it in my hands to do those things that promise a shortened life. That was then, here, but what about those things that bear eternal implications?

Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”… Hebrews 10: 28-30

My enemies are in hot pursuit - David uses the plural, for he had Saul, whom he regarded as the Lord's anointed, and whose life he refused to take. This has driven him into the land of his old enemies, and he is a recognizable foe, for he slew their giant, he was praised for the killing of 10,000 while Saul was only attributed a 1,000. His own tribe turns against him, others that he has rescued from the Philistines, yet in this distress, this weakness, his relationship to God becomes sweeter than honey. David grows well in turmoil, he is a mighty warrior, but grossly out numbered, he needs reinforcement, and what better place to look than up? We must at some point find ourselves, know ourselves in this same dire place.

When I am afraid - We easily relate to the fear of overwhelming odds, physical infirmities, death, but the fear of God is the beginning of knowledge. David has known the Lord's mercy in other times, and so he appeals to the God of heaven, though he may stumble in his first reactions, play the fool, David finds the time to pray and put his trust above what his eyes and ears may tell him of his circumstance. 

Whose word I praise - After all this is over, every enemy is gone, heaven and earth pass away, as entropy should tell us all, yet God has said, "My word shall remain." This is the thing that men put aside in favor of their own way, or pick and choose as they think they may please. Underneath that dusted cover are the words of life. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. This is God's chosen method of revelation to us, yet we detest it, and some would ask for God to show Himself another way, but He did, and we hung Him on a tree for it.

children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”… John 1: 13-15

What can mere mortals do to me? - This is the birth of wisdom for some, whom the Son sets free shall be free indeed.

What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead,fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.… Matthew 10: 27-29

Twist my words: “This is a common mode of warfare among the ungodly. They put our language on the rack; they extort meanings from it which it cannot be made fairly to contain.” (Spurgeon)

Shall they escape by iniquity - So many times I have defended what I believed, but often times it was for the sake of my own honor rather than God's, and that is to my shame. God does not call us to be debaters, to exalt ourselves, but rather lift up Christ, for He alone can save. We should never waver from proclaiming the truth, and one should expect to be hated for it and even accused of hate for speaking it. Reading a passage in Scripture is often enough to give rise to someone's anger. I have been asked what I believe about the Bible, about Christianity, about God, and many a times told that if I believe that then I hate people. The truth is, if I didn't give an answer, if I didn't tell you what God's word says, if I echoed back to you what you wanted to hear, then yes, I hated you. I believe there is a God, I believe Him to be the God of the Bible, that it is His word and warning to a world that has already come under the judgment of sin. But if your argument stands upon me hating you, then you do not have an argument with me. If your argument stands against what the Bible says, then you argue against God. Shall you escape by twisting what I say? No, I am not the door. Shall you escape by twisting what God says or finding someone who is a "pastor" that is willing to do so? Wanting to be liked at the cost of the gospel is preaching a different gospel, it is to draw men to you and not God. Standing upon the soap box of religion, arguing for the sake of my own honor, is ego. The regenerate heart will not suffer the ego, it will take up the cross instead, it wants you to see Christ. 

3 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”… Romans 10: 13-15

Instead, he must be hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trust worthy message as it was taught, so that by sound teaching he will be able to encourage others and refute those who contradict this message. 10 For many are rebellious and full of empty talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision,… Titus 1: 8-10

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. John 16: 7-11

We are to tell the truth in love, it is the Holy Spirit Who convicts. The root of it is unbelief, that there is a God, that God is holy, that He has spoken through His word. 

What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin. 10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one.11 There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.… Romans 3: 9-11

In the Lord, Whose word I praise - David knows what God has said about him, that God has anointed him, and though everything is hostile around him, towards him, he puts his trust, his hope, his faith, in the words of God. 

My feet from stumbling - It is God who saves, David can see that more clearly now, that he has made a vow to God, yet the circumstances were to great for him to conquer. The chasm is deep and the path too narrow, surely we are already consumed lest God hold us up, from eternity He chooses us, through Christ He makes the path, and by His Spirit we are drawn to walk in places where before we were unfit. God, let us walk in a way that pleases You. Let Your light be our guide, let Your truth be ever on our lips.