Read
(For the music leader. To the tune “A Silent Dove in the Distance.” A special psalm by David when the Philistines captured him in Gath.)
A Prayer of Trust in God
1 Have pity, God Most High!
My enemies chase me all day.
2Many of them are pursuing
and attacking me,
3but even when I am afraid,
I keep on trusting you.
4I praise your promises!
I trust you and am not afraid.
No one can harm me.
5Enemies spend the whole day
finding fault with me;
all they think about
is how to do me harm.
6They attack from ambush,
watching my every step
and hoping to kill me.
7They won't get away
with these crimes, God,
because when you get angry,
you destroy people.
8You have kept record
of my days of wandering.
You have stored my tears
in your bottle
and counted each of them.
9When I pray, Lord God,
my enemies will retreat,
because I know for certain
that you are with me.
10I praise your promises!
11I trust you and am not afraid.
No one can harm me.
12I will keep my promises
to you, my God,
and bring you gifts.
13You protected me from death
and kept me from stumbling,
so that I would please you
and follow the light
that leads to life.
Reflect
The heading on Psalm 56 in the Contemporary English Version is “A Prayer of Trust in God.” The superscription indicates it was written by David when he was held captive in Gath, a story we can read in 1 Samuel 21:10—22:2.
“Have pity, God Most High!” The psalmist gives voice to his yearning for release—and relief—from great distress. Pursued by enemies, he feels backed into a corner. With nowhere to turn, he turns to God, proclaiming his trust in God’s promises and justice, even in the midst of his terror.
He comforts himself with the thought that God has never been far from him, but has “kept record of my days,” and “stored my tears … and counted each of them.” Declaring his confidence that God will answer his prayers, he ends on a high note of praise and resolve to “follow the light that leads to life.”
Scholars see the psalm as looking forward to Jesus Christ, the son of David who would also be surrounded by enemies, but who—in the midst of his suffering—would remain steadfast in his trust and love for God.
The message for us is that we should also keep our trust in God, in good times and in bad. God sees all and knows all, and he is close to his people. Taking our cares to him will not necessarily make those cares go away, but will allow us to rest in the knowledge that God holds them, and that deliverance will come, whether by a change in our circumstances or by a change in the condition of our heart.
Then, like our Saviour, we will be able to pray, “but do what you want, not what I want,” (Matthew 26:39), knowing God will do what’s best.
Respond
God my shepherd, you are the one who guides me. When my path grows dark, help me trust that you are near. Then I won’t be afraid, but will continue to listen for your voice and walk in the way that I should go. Through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.
Patricia Paddey
Patricia Paddey has worked with Canada’s mainstream media in positions at the CBC, CTV and The CNW Group. Since 1998, she has managed a thriving freelance business, creating print, broadcast and online content for Christian media and non-profit organizations. An award-winning writer, she has been published in a wide array of Canadian publications. With an undergraduate degree in Radio and Television Arts, she is pursuing an Master of Theological Studies part-time, and works as Director of Communications for Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto.