Prayer through Persistent Trouble: Psalm 56-Supplication through the Scriptures


Prayer through Persistent Trouble

Psalm 56

Thus in this short Psalm, we have climbed from the ravenous jaws of the enemy into the light of Jehovah's presence, a path which only faith can tread.
Charles Spurgeon

I am loving going through the Psalms this year. How kind of God to give us so many comforts in one book. The Psalms give vocabulary to the expression of our emotions. They face the reality of our humanness while then directing us to truth. Today’s psalm is no different. David is again the author and is again facing his enemies. The “chorus of this psalm” is the repeated truth, “in God I trust; I shall not be afraid” (56:4).

We also see the trouble which led David to remind himself to trust the Lord, we see: men trample him, oppress him, attack him, injure his cause, their thoughts are against him for evil, they stir up strife, lurk, watch his steps, and wait for his life. And David repeats three times that these men and their evil deeds are against him “all day long” (56:1,2,5). 

We understand the weariness from a battle being waged all day long, or all week or month or year long. Sometimes it is a battle within our own heart and mind  that we are waging. Perhaps you’re fighting for a better relationship with a family member or fighting to make ends meet or fighting a battle with a physical ailment. 

This Psalm offers great encouragement for the “all day long” battles! When we are afraid, we must put our trust in God (56:3). Trust is having confidence and resting securely because we know we can rely on God. David tells us God keeps count of our tossings, puts our tears in His bottle, and keeps record of them in His book (56:8). He concerns Himself for each of our cares. These “all day long” issues which overwhelm us have not escaped His eye. And we can remind our souls, “This I know, that God is for me” (56:9). And if God is for us (which He is, if we are His in Christ!), then who can be against us? He did not even spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how then shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32)

Three times David emphasizes the overwhelming nature of his trouble. Three times he reminds and direct his heart from fear to trust in God. And three times he declares his praise for God’s Word. Another word for praise is boasting. David will boast in the great truths of God’s Word that strengthen his heart in His caring Shepherd. 

And finally he gives thanks to God, “For You have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life” (56:13). Today, fight your battles how David fought his. He acknowledged the trouble, he went directly to God with his trouble, he determined to trust Him as he remembered God’s care, and he responded in praise and thanks confident that God was for him and would help him walk in the light of life. 

Pray Psalm 56 turning over those “all day long” troubles to the Lord. 

In God I Trust 

56:1-4 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. 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? 
Lord, I pray:
▫️Be gracious to me, O God, for this battle I am facing today. It truly feels constant and unrelenting. Show mercy to me today and provide deliverance.
▫️When I am afraid, be gracious to me and strengthen my heart to trust in You. Give me truth from You Word that will gird up my mind. 
▫️Help me to say with confidence, “in You I trust” even if the circumstance I am in does not change. May I not lose hope while I wait for You.

All Day Long

56:5-7 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. For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God! 
Lord, I pray:
▫️You would fight for me. Whether it is my own sinful thoughts and ways, or someone else injuring me, or my physical body being weak or sick, please put Your hand upon me and bring relief from the constant barrage.
▫️I am thankful that You are the God who sees, and You see everything about me and You are intimately acquainted with who I am and the trouble I face. Work this out for me according to Your wise ways.

My Tears in Your Bottle

56:8-11 You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? 
Lord, I pray:
▫️Thank you, Father, that You keep count of my tossings and put my tears in Your bottle. Not one tear is missed by You. Not one long night. Not one anguished thought. Not one silent tear or loud sob.
▫️When I call, You hear me, and You have already won the victory over my enemies. You are ruling and reigning over my life and over all creation.
▫️Help me to know, believe, and trust that You are for me. Everything happening in my life is directed by Your love and care for me, to do what is best for me, conforming me to the image of Christ that I may bring glory to Your name. 
▫️In You I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?

In the Light of Life

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.
Lord, I pray:
▫️Fill my heart and lips with thanks and praise to You, whether or not I see or even understand what You are doing.
▫️Deliver me, Father, and keep my feet from falling. Do not let this distress overtake me or cause me to stumble.
▫️Be a light to me on this dark path that I may walk before You in the light of life. You alone can bring light and life to this hard circumstance. Please revive me again to trust and wait for You.

May the Lord do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, for His glory and our good. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

We perhaps are so confused after a long course of trouble, that we hardly know where we have or where we have not been; but the omniscient and considerate Father of our spirits remembers all in detail; for he has counted them over as men count their gold, for even the trial of our faith is precious in his sight.
Charles Spurgeon

Psalm 56 quoted from the ESV. 
Photo credit to botanicalnature

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