“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord , whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me? I am under vows to you, my God; I will present my thank offerings to you. For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.”
Psalm 56:3-4, 10-13
Psalm 56 is a Psalm or rememberence and of thanksgiving. Labled a “Miktam” (probably a musical term), to the tune of “A Dove On Distant Oaks”, it was written during the time the Philistines had pursued and siezed David at Gath (I Sam 21).
David was running for his life and was afraid. He doesn’t beat himself up for being afraid. He doesn’t mock his readers here, for being afraid. He does however, make a conscience decision in the midst of his fear to trust God!
Fear is a response-trust is a choice. David choose to trust God! We can make that same choice ourselves. He follows with, “what can mere mortals to to me”? He understood that NOTHING could happen to him without God’s permission and that IF SOMETHING DID HAPPEN TO HIM, God was in control!
In conclusion, David states his determination to fulfill his “thank offering” vows. During this time with the Philistines, David had made a vow that if God rescued him, he would openly give a thank offering before the entire congregation and tell of God’s goodness, kindness and might! Here, he’s prepareing to do just that and is, in fact, DOING JUST THAT!
David LOVED God. David TRUSTED God! David FOLLOWED God! Who are you loving, trusting and following today?
Think about it!
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