"Be merciful unto me, O God, for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresses me. Mine enemies would daily swallow me up; for they be many that fight against me, O Thou Most High."
In today's world, there are many believers being singled out and persecuted for their faith. We are seeing churches shut down and pastors arrested for helping the most vulnerable within society ... for essentially being the hands and feet of the Lord Jesus, wherein He has commanded us to love one another. So when we read the words of the psalmist above, we can feel his pain -- when his enemies plan daily to swallow him up.
But does David stay there, worrying about what will happen next? Of course not. In Psalm 56, we see the Lord's hand in all trials -- wherein He turns everything to good for those who love Him with all their heart, soul. mind and strength. So reading forward, David the psalmist writes:
"What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee. In God I will praise His Word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. Every day they wrest my words: all their thought are against me for evil." (Psalm 56:1-5)
This peace within even though David's enemies (and by extension, those of us who believe Jesus is still King of kings and Lord of lords in our current world) -- wrest his words every day. And even though all their thoughts are against us for evil.
"They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul." (Psalm 56:6)
But they don't know Jesus the way we do! These are not privy to the One who loves us beyond measure -- as the apple of His eye!
Thus, as David asks, "Shall they escape by iniquity?"
No, Why is that?
Because the Lord Jesus knows our wanderings. He has put my tears into His bottle. Are my tears not in His book too? All this to say that the Lord Jesus understands our struggles; our heartaches; our burdens when our enemies come against us.
Continuing, David writes, "When I cry unto Thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know: for God is for me. In God will I praise His Word. In the Lord will I praise His Word. In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me!" (Psalm 56:9-11)
Moreover, we continually render praises unto Thee. Our eyes continually on the Lord, for He is able to deliver His people from those with wicked intentions.
"For Thou hast delivered my soul from death; wilt not Thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?" (Psalm 56:13)
indeed, as David writes in yet another place, "For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living." (Psalm 116:8-9)
This is why we praise the Lord! This is why we give thanks unto the Lord. For He is good because His mercy endures for ever. Let them that fear the Lord say -- His mercy endures forever. For when we call upon the Lord in distress, the Lord answers us, and sets us in a large place -- the Lord is on our side so we do not have to fear.
Because at the end of the day, what can man do unto me? (Psalm 118:6)
The Lord is our strength and song and has become our salvation. The right hand of the Lord has done valiantly. And because of His kindness and love, He has opened to us the gates of righteousness -- this gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter. Therefore continue to praise the Lord for His goodness and grace, His mercy which we might never understand, but are so thankful that He has heard our prayers. And know too, that this is the Lord's doing -- the stone which the builders refused to become the headstone of the corner.
Indeed, the tent that the Lord is pitching -- it is His doing, and it should be marvellous in our eyes. Yes this is the day that the Lord hath made -- rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:22-24)
"For His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endures forever. Praise ye the Lord!" (Psalm 117:1-2)
Stand in the offering plate.
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