PSALM 56:1-4 – Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”
THEME OF THE DAY: CONFRONTING OUR FEARS WITH FAITH. Many of the Psalms have a setting in history. For instance, David penned Psalm 51 as one of repentance over his sin with Bathsheba. Today’s Psalm is another one. The Philistines seized David in Gath. To say they were his enemies is an understatement! And David was afraid. Very afraid.
For David, his enemies were literal. These were “living” enemies in the form of ruthless Philistines who wanted nothing but his demise. The language of fear from David’s heart is intense. It begins with gut-wrenching prayer of desperation for help – Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me. And these enemies were persistent – my enemies trample on me all day long. Not only were they constantly hounding him, but there were also not a few – for many attack me proudly. Now shift to us and let’s make the spiritual application.
Are not our spiritual enemies ruthless and many? We have a crafty devil, a harsh world, and a weak flesh that will do all they can, individually or as a team to bring about paralyzing fear upon our easily swayed hearts. And besides doubt, nothing is more debilitating to one’s Christian witness for Christ than fear.
Yes, the greatest spiritual foe we face is fear; fear generated by mulling over negative “what ifs”, fear of people, and fear from uncertain circumstances. Like David. When it comes to battling fear, it is only defeated by faith; faith in God’s promises, God’s Presence, and God’s faithfulness, yet it is a faith that must be exercised against fear. To not fight fear is to surrender to fear. For David? He fought his fear, and he did so with the personal exercise of faith, not in himself, but in his God and His Word – When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? It is the same for us. Don’t give into fear. It must be fought and that with great resolve and faith; a faith that will lead to consistent victory over the many fears of living in this fallen world.
PRAYER: “Father, increase my faith when fear seems stronger.”
QUOTE: “God has not given us the spirit of fear but of love, power, and a sound mind.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim