Psalm – Psalm 54-56

Today’s Psalms of David came at particularly difficult times of his life.  But like the other Psalms we have read, there is a pattern – a transition from prayer to praise.  See if you can locate these transitions in today’s reading…

Bible Passage:  Psalm 54-56

Many a times when we are in trouble, we just simply grumble, whine, scream and curse.  The words we speak do not help us – nor the people around us. But David was simply different.  He was truly a man after God’s heart because he was so in touch with God.  Can we say the same?

Let’s see what he said in the different situations he was in.

Chapter 54 composed this Psalm in one of the occassions when he was hiding in the Wilderness of Ziph.  Despite helping Israel by defeating the Philistines and expecting some acknowledgement or gratitude from the people, the local inhabitants reported him to Saul (1 Sam 23l 26:1-4).

Imagine the feeling of frustration, anger and feeling of being powerless when you learned that your friends or the people you have helped have betrayed you.

This was how David felt and it could be clearly seen from his words here.

If this was not bad enough, in Chapter 55, David now expands on the theme of betrayal he started in Psalm 54.  We are not sure of the circumstance, but this involved one of David’s closest friend – “a man of my equal” (v.13).

For those who have been betrayed by someone you thought you knew very well can certainly relate to what David sings about.

Lastly, in Psalm 56, living among the enemies and as a fugitive has driven David to turn to the only One who can help him.  There is none other and David recognizes this very clearly.

For today’s passage, I like Psalm 56:3-4 very much and find that it actually very neatly provides a summary or conclusion on the 3 Psalms that we have read.

Whenever I am afraid,
I will trust in You.
In God (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
I will not fear.
What can flesh do to me?

David’s fears were very real.

From enemy troops surrounding him, to foes attacking him all day long, to ‘good’ friends betraying him, to others who attack him incessantly.

I am sure no matter what we are facing, our fears are no where as life threatening or imminent like David’s.

But we humans have many fears.

There is a phobia named after almost every part of life.  Have you noticed the number of things people are deathly afraid of?  Sometimes to you, these may be silly but to those people suffering from those phobia – it is extremely scary.

Some, like my wife and many sisters, scream and literally break into cold sweat when they see a cockcroach.  There is another sister, who once upset the table we were were having dinner at – all because a cat accidentally brushed pass her.  Another sister cries when she is at great heights.

In case you think only sisters have the share of all the phobias, brothers suffer from other fears too.

I am extremely afraid of snakes (well… at least I am in good company with people like Indiana Jones).

There is a brother who is afraid of the injection needle.  Another is scared to death of rats.  The lists goes on… there are even people who are afraid of being afraid!

If we had read the Epistles, we would have known that Timothy was another one who seemed to be suffering from anxiety fears.  Was he overwhelmed by life,  Intimidated by the work of the Gospel or just afraid of failure?  Whatever it was, Paul encouraged him in 2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

But being told that the fear factor does not come from God does not mean that all our fears and anxieties just suddenly disappear.  Having a relationship with God does not mean we automatically become unafraid of everything.

David was one who was close to God and yet, fear followed him on occasions.

He admits when he was afraid.

But when he is afraid, he knows where to turn to.  When tempted to panic, David does not just stand rooted on the ground in fear or turn and run far far away.

Instead, he drops down on his knees and pray.  He calls on God.  He acknowledges his need of God.

Let us learn to do that too.  And actually today is the first time I am asking you all to do this… let us try and memorize the Psalm 56:3-4 today.  Let’s make this our memory verse of the week.

Whenever I am afraid,
I will trust in You.
In God (I will praise His word),
In God I have put my trust;
I will not fear.
What can flesh do to me?