READ: Ps. 56:1-14: … what can man do to me? …
David fled multiple times from the bloodthirsty king Saul. In doing so he did not always make the right choices. After he received Goliath’s sword from the priests in Nob, he still did not feel safe. In his despair he presents himself to the Philistine, King Achish in Gath (1 Sam. 21:10ff).
But are they not an enemy of God? The Philistines take him captive when they recognize him as the future king of Israel. David panics and pretends to be insane. That is a deep humiliation and does not testify of his trust in the LORD. When afterward he is released by king Achish, he composes two Psalms because of what happened in order still to show his thanks to the LORD: Psalms 34 and 56.
In verses 2 and 3 David thanks the LORD who despite everything nevertheless saved him from the hand of the many enemies; he can live only by God’s grace (vs.2,3). In this song of thanks and praise to the LORD he dwells extensively on the horror and schemes of his opponents who give him no rest for a moment (vs.3,6-8).
Yet through the deliverance he is even more convinced that God is with him. With attention to God’s omnipotence and faithful protection David comes to the confession of faith (vs.6): “In God I will praise His word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?” And verse 10: “This I know, because God is for me no enemy can have success”
In addition he knows that the LORD also has regard for his troubles and sorrow, yes that He even sees and counts his tears (vs.9). That gives David courage for new moments of battle.
Then David looks back once more on what happened in Gath and how there he was delivered by God from death, and not by his own cunning: “Have You not kept my feet from falling?”
Through all the troubles David has been strengthened in his trust in the LORD. He ends with the joyful fact that he may continue walking before God in the light of the living. That is the true life on earth.
Do we always openly confess our faith?
Singing: Ps. 56:1,3,4