Scripture Sunday: Trust God When Enemies Attack

Psalm 56

¹ Be merciful to me, my God,
    for my enemies are in hot pursuit;
    all day long they press their attack.
² My adversaries pursue me all day long;
    in their pride many are attacking me.
³ When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
⁴     In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?
⁵ All day long they twist my words;
    all their schemes are for my ruin.
⁶ They conspire, they lurk,
    they watch my steps,
    hoping to take my life.
⁷ Because of their wickedness do not^[c] let them escape;
    in your anger, God, bring the nations down.
⁸ Record my misery;
    list my tears on your scroll^[d]—
    are they not in your record?
⁹ Then my enemies will turn back
    when I call for help.
    By this I will know that God is for me.
¹⁰ In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise—
¹¹ in God I trust and am not afraid.
    What can man do to me?
¹² I am under vows to you, my God;
    I will present my thank offerings to you.
¹³ For you have delivered me from death
    and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.

According to the statement about this Psalm, King David wrote this when the Philistines seized him in Gath. He openly expressed his fear of being surrounded by his enemies but puts his trust in God.

What does this mean for us? We don’t fully realize our hope or trust in God until we’re put in situations that cause us to lean on Him. Psalm 56 also encourages us to acknowledge our fear and pain instead of denying it or seeing it as a weakness.

Fear is a normal response to our environment but it becomes problematic when we respond to it more than God, or when we do things out of fear.

When nothing else could be done other than putting your trust in God, His love will flow through you.