WHEN I AM AFRAID

Passage: Psalm 56:1-13

Key verse: 3

NIV

Psalm 56[a]
For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam.[b] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath.

1 Be merciful to me,(A) my God,
    for my enemies are in hot pursuit;(B)
    all day long they press their attack.(C)
2 My adversaries pursue me all day long;(D)
    in their pride many are attacking me.(E)

3 When I am afraid,(F) I put my trust in you.(G)
4     In God, whose word I praise—(H)
in God I trust and am not afraid.(I)
    What can mere mortals do to me?(J)

5 All day long they twist my words;(K)
    all their schemes are for my ruin.
6 They conspire,(L) they lurk,
    they watch my steps,(M)
    hoping to take my life.(N)
7 Because of their wickedness do not[c] let them escape;(O)
    in your anger, God, bring the nations down.(P)

8 Record my misery;
    list my tears on your scroll[d](Q)—
    are they not in your record?(R)
9 Then my enemies will turn back(S)
    when I call for help.(T)
    By this I will know that God is for me.(U)

10 In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise—
11 in God I trust and am not afraid.
    What can man do to me?

12 I am under vows(V) to you, my God;
    I will present my thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered me from death(W)
    and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.(X)

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 56:1 In Hebrew texts 56:1-13 is numbered 56:2-14.
  2. Psalm 56:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 56:7 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; Masoretic Text does not have do not.
  4. Psalm 56:8 Or misery; / put my tears in your wineskin
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

In God I Trust

To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A (A)Miktam[a] of David, when the (B)Philistines seized him in Gath.

56 (C)Be gracious to me, O God, for man (D)tramples on me;
    all day long an attacker oppresses me;
2 my enemies trample on me all day long,
    for many attack me proudly.
3 When I am afraid,
    I (E)put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise,
    in God I trust; (F)I shall not be afraid.
    What can flesh do to me?

5 All day long they injure my cause;[b]
    all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They (G)stir up strife, they (H)lurk;
    they (I)watch my steps,
    as they have waited for my life.
7 For their crime will they escape?
    (J)In wrath (K)cast down the peoples, O God!

8 You have kept count of my tossings;[c]
    (L)put my tears in your bottle.
    (M)Are they not in your book?
9 Then my enemies will turn back
    (N)in the day when I call.
    This I know, that[d] (O)God is for me.
10 In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; (P)I shall not be afraid.
    What can man do to me?

12 I must perform my (Q)vows to you, O God;
    I will (R)render thank offerings to you.
13 (S)For you have delivered my soul from death,
    yes, my feet from falling,
(T)that I may walk before God
    (U)in the light of life.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 56:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
  2. Psalm 56:5 Or they twist my words
  3. Psalm 56:8 Or wanderings
  4. Psalm 56:9 Or because
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

David defeated Goliath and became a war hero and was ascending to become the next king of Israel. Everything seemed to be looking up, but such a life was not without hardships. David was pursued by Saul who did not want to lose the throne. He was also attacked by his adversaries, the Philistines, who had seized him. During trying times, David put his trust in God.

Faith is not the absence of fear, but the will to not give in to fear. If our fear is other people, we can trust in God’s love and acceptance. If our fear is our own sin or failures, we can trust in God’s mercy and salvation power. If our fear is death, we can entrust our lives in God’s eternal hands. When our lives are in God’s hands, we can live in hope and walk in the light of life.

Prayer: Lord, when I am scared and it seems like the world is falling apart, help me to trust in you and walk in the light of life.

One Word: You have delivered me from death