When My Soul Is Troubled

“They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down. They have dug a pit before me, into the midst of which they themselves have fallen.” (Psalm 57:6)

There are times when we feel deeply wronged. We have done nothing wrong, yet someone hates us and torments us. We don't even know why they hate us, or why they are trying to hurt us. If we at least knew the reason, it might be easier to understand, but without any reason, they simply hate us and make our lives miserable. And it seems like they're not satisfied with that. They gather others to slander and falsely accuse us. They spread bad rumors about us. They unite to try to overthrow us and even push us to the point of danger. We feel like there is nowhere left for us to stand. We can no longer endure. Our hearts are overwhelmed with grief and distress. We feel so deeply wronged. So, when my soul is troubled, what should I do?

In today’s passage, Psalm 57:6, the psalmist David says, “My soul is bowed down.” Why does David say this? The reason is that he had done no wrong, in fact, he had defeated Goliath, the enemy of Israel, in the name of God, bringing victory to Israel. Yet, King Saul, filled with jealousy, began to look at him with suspicion and sought to kill him. So, while David was fleeing from Saul and hiding in a cave, he wrote this psalm, crying out to God for his unjust situation. How did David respond when his soul was troubled? Let’s reflect on five lessons that we can learn from his example:

First, when David’s soul was troubled, he fled to God.

Look at Psalm 57:1: “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by.”
David, when his soul was troubled, longed for God’s grace. He pleaded with God to show him mercy. In the midst of his distress, he fled to the Lord, seeking shelter under His wings, until the troubles he faced passed by.
We, too, must flee to the Lord when our souls feel troubled. The reason is that God is our refuge and our stronghold against our enemies (Psalm 61:3). When the storms of life and strong winds hit us, we must quickly run to the Lord, our refuge, and stay there until the storm passes (Psalm 55:8). We must seek shelter under the shadow of His wings (Psalm 36:7). We are to always trust in God, our refuge (Psalm 62:8), and when our souls feel troubled, we must flee to Him. The Lord will hide us under the shadow of His wings (Psalm 17:8) and protect us.

Second, when David’s soul was troubled, he cried out to God, who accomplishes everything for him.

Look at Psalm 57:2: “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.”
David, while hiding in a cave to escape King Saul, cried out to God Most High, the One who accomplishes everything for him. How could David make such a plea? If he had only looked at his situation with physical eyes, he would never have confessed that God was the One who would fulfill His purpose for him. If David had only focused on his circumstances, trapped in the cave with no escape, he would not have sought God’s will in his despair. However, David, believing in God Most High even while in the cave, looked beyond his own will and trusted that God would fulfill His will for him. This is the kind of faith we must also have. I think of Paul and Silas in Acts 16. Locked in a prison from all directions, they prayed and praised God. It’s understandable that they prayed to God, but how could they praise God in such a situation? In my view, those who have faith—believing that God will accomplish His will—can praise Him regardless of the circumstances. This is the true power of praise. Praise not based on circumstances, but praise grounded in the sovereignty of God. No matter what situation we find ourselves in, our God is worthy of praise. Therefore, regardless of the situation, we must praise the greatness and majesty of the Lord. We must cry out to God with the faith that He will fulfill His purpose for us, even in the trials we face.

Third, when David’s soul was troubled, he believed that God would send His mercy and truth to him.

Look at Psalm 57:3: "He will send from heaven and save me from the reproach of him who would swallow me up. (Selah) God will send forth His mercy and His truth." David had assurance of salvation. Even though he was hiding in a cave from King Saul, he believed that God would save him, even in such a situation. Not only that, but David also believed that God would send His mercy and His truth (v. 3). What does it mean that God will send His mercy and truth? Personally, I have experienced God's mercy and truth when my first child was suffering from a disease. The word of truth that God sent was Psalm 63:3: "Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You." My wife and I received this word on a Monday morning, and we decided to let our first child, Ju-Young, pass away. After gathering around Ju-Young in the hospital ICU, we prayed together, then turned off all the machines and removed the tubes. Ju-Young fell asleep in my arms. Later, after cremating Ju-Young and scattering the ashes, as we returned to land, God allowed me to praise His incredible and amazing love of salvation. In the end, during the greatest crisis of our lives, God sent His love and truth, leading us to praise Him. Therefore, I believe that crises are a great opportunity to experience God's love and truth.

Fourth, when David's soul was troubled, his heart became steadfast, and in that certainty, he sang and praised.

Look at Psalm 57:7: "My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise." In the midst of the calamities he faced, David, who had taken refuge in God, not only believed that God would fulfill His purpose for him but also believed that God would send His mercy and truth (vv. 1-3). As a result, having received God's grace in the midst of disaster, David became confident in his heart (v. 7, Contemporary Bible). He was assured not only of salvation but also that God's will would be fully accomplished and that he would experience God's love and truth even in the midst of trials. With this certainty, David decided to praise God (v. 7). As a result, David's troubled soul woke up and greeted the dawn (v. 8). Our souls, too, must awaken and greet the dawn. No longer should our souls be troubled; rather, we should praise the Lord's greatness with confidence in our hearts.

Finally, fifth, when David's soul was distressed, he prayed that God would be exalted and that His glory would rise above all the earth.

Look at Psalm 57:5 and 11: "Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth... Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth." It is fascinating that, while David was hiding in a cave, fleeing from King Saul, he prayed for God to be exalted above the heavens and for His glory to be lifted above the entire world. Particularly, even in the midst of his unjust flight from Saul and the calamities he faced, he still gave thanks to God among the peoples and praised God among the nations (v. 9). He prayed for God to be exalted above the heavens and for His glory to rise above the earth. This is a challenge to me. How was David able to do this? I believe it was possible because he had experienced God's mercy and truth, which He sends (v. 3).

Look at verse 10: "For your mercy is great, reaching to the heavens, and your truth to the skies." When David, in the midst of his distress and calamities, took refuge in God, the grace he sought, the will of God he cried out for, and the mercy and truth he longed for, led him to confess, "For your mercy is great, reaching to the heavens, and your truth to the skies." As a result, he was able to cry out to God: "Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth" (v. 11).

I still remember it. It is an unforgettable memory in my heart. I remember the moment during my third uncle's (the pastor's) memorial service, after proclaiming the word of God, when we all, together with the mourners, sang hymn number 40 ("This is my Father's world") with great strength, praising God. Especially, when we sang the refrain, “My soul will praise the Lord for His greatness and His majesty,” I can never forget the experience when the Holy Spirit, who dwells in me, made my soul praise God. I also remember when my third uncle, while he was still alive, went on a mission trip to Tijuana, Mexico, and sang the Spanish version of that hymn's refrain in front of Mexican people with disabilities. That scene is still vivid in my memory. Furthermore, I remember the moment during our family New Year service, just before my third uncle passed away, when, despite suffering from cancer, he rose up with great difficulty and praised the Lord's greatness and majesty. How could a cancer patient, suffering from such a disease, praise the Lord's greatness and majesty? How could someone, after losing a beloved family member, praise the Lord's greatness and majesty at the funeral? When I think of David, who, while hiding in a cave to escape King Saul, did not focus on the calamity but instead looked to the God of salvation, asking that God's glory be exalted over all the earth through His mercy and truth, I am challenged. I too, focusing too much on my own situation or ministry, have realized how limited my prayer life has become. Now, I want to pray that God's glory will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. I pray that God will expand the territory of my prayers so that His greatness and glory fill the whole world.

I would like to conclude with this reflection. It is a world full of injustices. Even in the church, we experience injustices. I don’t understand why people’s tongues are as sharp as swords (Psalm 57:4). I don’t understand why brothers and sisters are slandered (v. 3). It’s as though people dig pits for others, trying to make them fall into traps (v. 6). Because of this, some members of the church suffer even greater wounds. Even though they feel wronged, they do not voice their complaints. Eventually, some even leave the church. But it doesn’t stop there. There are many in the church who are suffering from disasters. They don’t know what to do. We must only look to the Lord and cry out to Him. We must take refuge in our God, who is our shelter. He will fulfill His will for us. Also, when we are in calamity, God will send His mercy and truth to make us experience them deeply. Therefore, our hearts will be firm, and with confidence, we will praise God: “O God, be exalted above the heavens, and let Your glory be over all the earth” (v. 5).