My first thought when preparing to write about Psalm 56 was along the lines of, “God – you’ve done it again!” We’re told in the gospel of John that the Holy Spirit teaches and reminds us. I need frequent reminders!
In the case of Psalm 56, the Holy Spirit knew I needed reminding of a devotional I studied just a few days earlier. Its central passage was Isaiah 26:3-4, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.”
A key word that’s repeated in Isaiah 26 and Psalm 56 is trust. Verses 3 and 4 of Psalm 56 read, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” And in verses 10 and 11, “In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
Just as the word trust is key, the reality of fear is common. In this Psalm, David voices the fact that he is afraid. But he goes on, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to prescribe the antidote for that disease called fear; that disease that so often afflicts us: trust in God.
Easier said than done? Perhaps that’s why God repeats the instruction to trust so often throughout the Bible. That’s why I praised Him and His words upon reading Psalm 56 and immediately noting the theme it had in common with Isaiah 26.
My devotional of earlier this year ended with this prayer, “Dear God, my mind can be a scary place, and I fear so much. Please give me your peace.” I’ll add to that request, please help us trust.
- Lynn P.