More Than Your Imagination

Psalm 56:5 (KJV) Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.

(Proverbs 8 also read)

David is lamenting the number of his enemies and their enthusiasm in attacking him. We are not kings.  We are not in positions where powerful people attack us with weapons and violence.  This verse reminds us that all of the opposition we face is not of that nature.

When we stand for righteousness people attack us in many non-physical ways.  Here we see that they can attack us for what we say.  Have you spoken openly in praise of Jesus?   Then the sad truth is you can expect someone to react.   Remember that that Greek for witness is our English martyr.   They can become obsessed because you are a constant irritation to what they want to be.

So?   Look at persecution as a verification that you are living the way God wants. 

Secret Trust

Psalm 56:3 (KJV) What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

My first thought here was that it’s kind of a narrow trust that only emerges when we’re afraid.  I think of foxhole believers.  I think of those who only turned to the Lord in times of crisis.  But then I had a second thought

I think for those of us who truly know the Lord, we live in a state of trust that is perpetual, strong and below our radar.  I think what David is saying here is that we remember the fact that we trust in God during those times of fear.  If that’s not what he’s saying, it’s what he should be saying. 

We have many thoughts and emotions that are not always on the surface.  Having just gone through a holiday season and spent time with family I don’t know that we could live at that level of love and joy on a constant basis.  We’d probably burn out.  So I think we tend to push things over in corners.  They’re there.  They are available.  They are real.  We bring them out as necessary.

So?  I think that’s one reason why the early morning worship time for me is so important.  There are things that I touch out there that I might not think about if I didn’t spend time focusing.  By pulling them out, I strengthen them.  I make them more functional.  So many reasons to be filled with praise.  

Trust

Psalms 56:11 (KJV) In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.

(Proverbs 26 also read)

In this entire Psalm, I don’t see any reference to the law.  I see a lot of concerns that David has about his security, and about his fears.  I see no solution found in the law.  What I see, is David expressing his trust in God.  It is so easy for us to rely on formulas and doctrines instead of having a real living trust in a real living God.  

We live in exciting and interesting times.  That means it is easy to find something to fear.  We need to keep asking ourselves that second question.

So?  Notice the similarity to the phrase on our money.  Maybe it would help if we spent time reading our one dollar bills. 

Unexpected Touch

(Psa 56:4 KJV)  In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

(Proverbs 18 also read)

Today when I read this Psalm it seemed lifeless.  When I read it a second time, it seemed the same.  As I continued my worship my thoughts turned to the nature of God and how He is worthy when I am not.  He then reminded me that He makes me worthy, or maybe better adequate, by His constant guiding of my life.  It can be a major intervention or just the gentle breeze that redirects my attention but He sees to it that I am able to be what He wants.

That brought me back to this Psalm.  I can face today with confidence because there is an involved, personal God who is active in my life.  He makes up for my shortcomings and at the end of the day, when it is time to tally up the balance, I can trust Him for my eternity.  

So?  At that point I realized I had read Psalm 56 when I should have read 66.  Strange how God works to get our attention.