Like many of us who belong to the Lord, King David experienced many times in his life when he was relentlessly pursued by the enemies of God. We read about one of those times in Psalm 56 as he describes the waves of fear, and the waves of faith that swept over him at that time. This Psalm gives us a glimpse into the spiritual insight that the Lord gave to David, insight that we need today.

David cried out for the Lord to be gracious to him. Even though he didn’t deserve it, he asked God to show him mercy and to help him in this time of distress. Those who were being led by the enemy of his soul had crushed him under their feet. They sought to tear him to pieces so that he would never rise again. They put pressure on him and were attempting to squeeze the life out of him, just as the enemy of our soul might use people against us, even those who are close to us.

The enemies of David fought without mercy and without fear of God, like a pack of wild animals. But David’s enemies were also the enemies God, and our God is more powerful than all of them. Our God is in the heavens. David turned to the Lord in his weakness, when he was terrified, and found peace in his heart because of God’s faithfulness to him. He trusted that he would be safe in the hands of God. He rested in His integrity and in the promise of His word. David would sing songs of praise, even while he was in the lion’s den, even while he was in the fiery furnace of affliction.

He put his trust and confidence in God alone. He would not be afraid of the attacks of the enemy. After all, what can mere men do to him? His mind and his heart were fixed on God, even while they continued to twist his words into lies, and while all their intentions were against him for evil. David knew that they were waiting to ambush him.

They watched his footsteps as they followed close behind him, like hunters who stalk their prey. They were waiting for the right opportunity to take his life, because of the wickedness that was in their heart. So David cried out again, for the Lord to trample upon them in His anger because they had no regard for Him or His word.

In reality, they were waiting for their own destruction. They were waiting for their own blood, just as many do today. The Lord has stretched forth His hand in love, offering salvation to the people of this world. But many have refused Him, and so they will reap the whirlwind of His wrath.

The Lord sees all things, and He knows all things, so David knew the Lord kept an account of his difficulties. God had collected David’s flood of tears in a wineskin. The Lord keeps the number of our tears recorded on a scroll in heaven. He knows every detail of our life. He is God Almighty. Though we do not always see how the Lord is moving in our lives, He is still moving for our good and for His glory.

The psalmist knew that all of his enemies would turn back and run away when he cried out to God. He knew that God was for him, so no one could stand against him. He stood on the solid rock of His word. He stood on the Judge of all the earth, whose word he praised. He put his trust in the God of all mercy.

The promises of God are sure. They do not change. We can take God at His word. We owe Him our very lives. We must not forget His mercy towards us. In full agreement with the psalmist, we cry out to the Lord, we will repay Him with songs of thanksgiving, for He has delivered our soul from death. Indeed, He has delivered our feet from stumbling, so that we might walk before Him and devote our lives to the glory of His name, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.