Week of June 21st, 2026
Many of the Psalms have a heading that is part of the inspired text. Psalm 56, printed below, is one of those Psalms. In the time before he became king of Israel, the Philistines had captured David. He had good reason to be afraid (David had killed their champion, Goliath, sometime before this). But read the Psalm with David’s situation in mind and see how David’s faith gave him courage.
Psalm 56
For the choir director: according to “A Silent Dove Far Away.” A Davidic Miktam. When the Philistines seized him in Gath.
Be gracious to me, God, for man tramples me;
he fights and oppresses me all day long.
My adversaries trample me all day,
for many arrogantly fight against me.
When I am afraid,
I will trust in You.
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
They twist my words all day long;
all their thoughts against me are evil.
They stir up strife, they lurk;
they watch my steps while they wait to take my life.
Will they escape in spite of such sin?
God, bring down the nations in wrath.
You Yourself have recorded my wanderings.
Put my tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in Your records?
Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call.
This I know: God is for me.
In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
I am obligated by vows to You, God;
I will make my thank offerings to You.
For You delivered me from death,
even my feet from stumbling, to walk before God in the light of life.
Certainly you face situations that give you reasons to be afraid too. But, like David, you have a Savior-God who will protect you in a way that is perfect for you. He wants nothing but good for you; he is always on your side. God is bigger than your fears. He will do what is absolutely best for your eternal welfare. Trust him!
