Trust in God!

 

 

 


[Psalm 56]

 

 

How should we trust only in God? In the article titled "Draw Near to Jesus’ Heart Every Day", it is summarized in four points: (1) Reflect on your weaknesses, (2) Acknowledge that you cannot achieve even the smallest thing without God's help, (3) Ask God for only what He can give, (4) Realize that you do not have it, and there is nowhere to go to obtain it. Kneel before the Lord and ask Him to hear our requests (Internet).

In Psalm 31:14, which we have already meditated upon, David had a faith of "nevertheless": "But I trust in You, O Lord; I say, 'You are my God.'" David had the faith that, regardless of the situation he was in, he would trust only in the Lord. Even in pain and distress (v. 9), in sorrow and mourning (v. 10), in shame (v. 11), when forgotten (v. 12), and in fear (v. 13), David trusted only in the Lord.

In Psalm 56 today, the phrase "trust in God" is mentioned several times: "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You" (v. 3), "In God I trust, and I will praise His word; in God I have put my trust, I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?" (v. 4), "In God I trust, I will praise His word; in the Lord I trust, I will praise His word" (v. 10), "In God I have put my trust, I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (v. 11). Today, I want to receive the lesson that God wants to teach us under the title "Trust in God!"

First, when did David trust in God?

David trusted in God "on the day I am afraid." Let’s look at Psalm 56:3: "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You." Why did David feel afraid? The reason is that David’s enemies (v. 2), the Philistines (heading), oppressed him (v. 1) and sought to take his life (v. 6). Interestingly, the oppression and persecution from David’s enemies was not just once, but "all day long," without rest (vv. 1, 2, 5). This fact shows us that Satan’s work never rests. Satan is constantly tempting, oppressing, and trying to make us fall.

An example of Satan’s continual work can be seen in the story of Joseph in Genesis 39. The Bible tells us that Potiphar's wife, who found Joseph handsome (Gen. 39:6), "daily" tempted him to sleep with her (v. 10). In today’s passage, Satan’s work is represented by David’s enemies, who did not cease to oppress, persecute, and try to kill him.

Why do the evil ones, servants of Satan, attack and torment the righteous without rest? The answer can be found in the latter part of verse 5 of today’s passage: "All their thoughts are against me for evil." Since Satan and his servants always have evil thoughts toward us, they continually tempt us, attack us, and try to make us fall.

Therefore, we must rely on God every moment, daily. The fact that Satan’s work never rests and continues to tempt and attack us all day long teaches us that we too must rely on God all day long or without ceasing. Since Satan is constantly attacking and trying to bring us down, how can we not rely on the Lord without ceasing? Let us all hold onto the promise of Isaiah 41:10: "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." The Bible tells us that the Lord will uphold us with His mighty right hand. Our God will strengthen us. Therefore, no matter what fearful situation we are in, we must trust in God.

Second, how did David rely on God?

(1) David relied on God through prayer.

Looking at the content of his prayer, first, David asked for God's mercy. Let us look at Psalm 56:1: "Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; fighting all day he oppresses me." What we can ask for is only God's mercy, because everything is by God's grace. The suffering we endure for the Lord is also God's grace, and the salvation we receive even in times of crisis is by God's grace. Therefore, like David, we have no choice but to ask for God's mercy. In Nehemiah 9:25-31, we see that our God is a gracious and merciful God (v. 31). When we enjoy the great blessings of the Lord (v. 25), we fail to obey the Lord, rebel against Him, and sin by turning our backs on His word (v. 26). Therefore, the Lord disciplines us in love and allows us to face difficulties (v. 27). Then we cry out to God, and He hears our prayer and, in His great mercy, delivers us (v. 27). After receiving peace, we again sin before the Lord (v. 28). Then there is more discipline from the Lord, and our cries are heard, and He shows mercy again, delivering us (v. 28). Our God is a God who shows mercy many times. He forgives us for many years (v. 30). David asked for this mercy from God, and we must do the same.

Looking at the content of David's prayer, secondly, David asked for God's help. Let us see Psalm 56:9: "When I cry to You, then my enemies will turn back; this I know, because God is for me." When David prayed, he believed that God would answer his prayer and make his enemies retreat. In other words, David was confident that God would help him. With this confidence, David cried out with tears, asking for God's mercy and help (v. 8).

(2) David relied on God by praising Him.

Let us look at Psalm 56:4 and 10: "In God I will praise His word; in God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?" (v. 4), "In God I will praise His word; in the Lord I will praise His word." (v. 10). What does it mean to "praise God's word"? This means that we praise God because we are confident that His promises, the words He has allowed, will surely come to pass. This can only be done through faith. Only with faith can we praise God, even in dangerous and painful circumstances, knowing that He will answer our prayers. This is why Paul and Silas, even in prison, prayed and praised God (Acts 16:25).

Normally, when we say that we must trust in God, we already know that we should pray to Him. That is why we offer hymns like the first verse and refrain of hymn 363: "All my trials and heavy burdens, I bring before Jesus in prayer. On the day surrounded by worries, He takes my burdens all away. When I alone cannot bear the heavy load, and fall under the weight, He will have mercy and save me, the Lord of grace, only Jesus." We bring all our trials and burdens to God in prayer. But what is interesting is that David trusted in God through praise. As we meditate on what this means, we realize that even in fearful situations, while we pray to God, in the process of prayer, we ultimately end up praising Him. This happens because when we meditate on the Lord Jesus Christ, we cannot help but praise Him. This is why hymn 455, verse 2, has the lyrics: "My fear turned into prayer, and the sighs of yesterday turned into my song." Like David, we should trust in God by praying to Him and praising Him. Even in fearful situations, I hope that all of us, like Paul and Silas, can pray and praise God.

Finally, what was the attitude of heart that David had when he trusted in God?

(1) David had assurance of his salvation.

Look at today's passage, Psalm 56:13: "For You have delivered my soul from death, and You have kept my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life." In the midst of relentless oppression and persecution from his enemies, and in a fearful situation where his life was threatened, David fully trusted in God through prayer and praise. Since he had already experienced God's salvation in the past, he was confident that God would save him in the present crisis as well. God not only saved David but also kept him from stumbling so that he could walk in the light of life. Our God is a God who keeps us from stumbling. He is the God who makes us walk in the light of life. We must overcome adversity and suffering with this assurance of God's salvation.

(2) David decided to fulfill the vows he made to God.

Look at today's passage, Psalm 56:12: "I will fulfill my vows to You, O God; I will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to You." David decided to take responsibility before God. He resolved to faithfully fulfill the vows he had made to God. He committed to paying his vows with gratitude and praise. We, who live by trusting in God, must take responsibility and fulfill the vows we have made to Him. We must never take our vows lightly. Our vows should be made carefully, and if we have decided to fulfill them, we must carry them out.

No matter what fearful situation you and I may find ourselves in, let us trust in God through our prayers and praises. Let us all, with full assurance of our salvation, seek God in prayer and, in the end, be established as worshipers who give thanks and praise to God. Let us also make the decision to fulfill the vows we have made to God and put them into practice.

Last Sunday afternoon, after finishing the teacher's Bible study, I had a phone conversation with a brother in Christ. Not knowing what to say, I prayed in my heart for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as I received the call. At that moment, the Holy Spirit reminded me of the word I had proclaimed during the English worship service that day, and I shared that word with my dear brother: "Let us follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit and make the right choices based on God's Word. Let us fully rely on God and make the right decisions."

At that moment, the brother confessed that his problem was not being able to trust in God. So, I prayed for him over the phone. As I listened to the sound of his tears, my heart was filled with sorrow. But I entrusted him to God in prayer, trusting that God would hold him and rescue him.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us trust in God completely. He will save us. Victory!

 

 

 

With a heart of gratitude for God's grace that enables us to trust in Him,

 

 

Pastor James Kim
(Entrusting all my fears to the Lord through prayer and praise)