Light Day 7: Psalm 56:1-13

Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.
For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

Notice the oneness and trust that the Psalmist has with God in this passage. In every aspect of his life, he’s turning to God, trusting God, relying on God for protection, provision, and help. In the midst of his struggles, he is turning to His Father for mercy, understanding, strength, peace, and sympathy.

Interestingly, however, the Psalmist isn’t asking God for anything in this particular Psalm apart from the opening phrase, “Be merciful unto me.” Instead, he’s simply declaring the following:

1. The facts (who God is, how trustworthy God is, the circumstances of what his enemies are doing, that enemies will turn back when he cries to God)
2. His personal feelings (oppressed, afraid, tearful)
3. His resolutions based on the facts (I will trust, I will praise, I will not be afraid)

What trust, and what a challenge to us in the face of adverse circumstances we might face! It is so easy to give in to our feelings, responding and acting based upon them instead of upon the facts. Since our feelings will lead us to actions that are not only wrong but also miserable, this is a lose-lose situation and a surefire way to abide in darkness.

By the death and resurrection life of His Son, God has already delivered our souls from death. If He has already accomplished what is arguably the greatest deliverance of our lives, can we not trust Him to deliver our feet from falling in our daily lives? No matter what enemies or hardships we may face, God’s loyal care for us in every circumstance surely can be trusted. If we’ve committed the life and death of our souls to Him, certainly we can trust Him with the daily trials!

Trust that God’s goal for you is indeed that you may “walk before God in the light of the living.” He loves us more than we can imagine, and His thoughts and plans toward us are so much higher and greater and safer and yet more adventurous than our own could ever be. He is abundantly able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy!