Faithful Justice
Psalm 55
Main Idea: When I am afraid, I put my trust in God.
I. The Storm Before the Calm
This psalm commemorates a defining moment that re-oriented David’s response to a recurring problem - specifically “when I am afraid.” “Miktam” moments generally include two equally important components:
The Calamity that Reveals the Problem - in this case fear
The “Solution” that Magnifies the Problem - in this case panic
1. The Calamity that Reveals the Problem: Fear
David summarizes the longer story that landed him in Gath in the opening phrases of our psalm:
Psalm 56:1-2, 5-6: Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;
all day long an attacker oppresses me;
my enemies trample on me all day long,
for many attack me proudly.
All day long they injure my cause;
all their thoughts are against me for evil.
They stir up strife, they lurk;
they watch my steps,
as they have waited for my life.
2. The “Solution” that Magnifies the Problem: Panic
When David left Jonathan, fear took the driver’s seat in his decision-making. Scripture gives us no explanation of what David was thinking here, but this could not have been a smart move. David shows up in Gath, home of the giant he killed and beheaded in front of everybody, carrying the giant’s sword.
It’s after this traumatic string of events that David has his “miktam” moment: His fear-driven panic had put the word of God at risk. David was facing Saul’s opposition and his resulting ordeal because God had anointed him king instead of Saul. In the aftermath of this chaotic, traumatic episode, David realized that he had responded improperly to fear and, consequently, through his panic, had put God’s promise at risk. This was not the posture of a person who trusts in the LORD.
This psalm is written to be sung out loud as a reminder of what to do when fear threatens to drive you to panic. David’s “miktam” moment broke the hold of fear and panic and re-oriented him to the bigger story of what was happening in his life.
Psalm 56:3-4: When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can flesh do to me?
II. The God Who Tracks our Tears
David found his way out of fear and into trust by remembering God’s awareness, God’s character, and God’s management.
Psalm 56:7-8: For their crime will they escape?
In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!
You have kept count of my tossings;
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book?
God’s Awareness: He Never Overlooks Anything
People’s sins against us are not overlooked by God any more than the tears those crimes cause go unnoticed before God.
God’s Character: He Always Is Who He Is
When David begs God at the beginning of this psalm to be gracious to him, he is asking God to be who He is on David’s behalf. This gracious God - the great I AM - whose word he trusted, had chosen David. David remembered the character of God and made the conscious decision to trust Him to be who He is.
God’s Management: He Always Does What He Says He Will
The story of God’s management is this: His enemies face His wrath. His chosen will know His salvation. No wonder David repeats our main point! For all of the nasty stuff that David endured “all day long” from enemies who wished to “trample on” him, he came to the conviction that he would outlast them because “God is for me!”
III. The Vows that Shall be Kept
God, whose word I trust, will keep His promises to me:
He will be gracious to me, though man seek to trample on me (56:1)
He will keep count of my tossings, put my tears in his bottle, writing them all in his book, though criminals commit their crimes against me
He will deliver my soul from death and my feet from falling, while my enemies turn back.
I will walk before God in the light of life - now and forever!
We know how the story ends. David is delivered from and through many trials into the kingship God chose him for.
Psalm 56:12-13: I must perform my vows to you, O God;
I will render thank offerings to you.
For you have delivered my soul from death,
yes, my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.
