Psalm 56: a peaceful trusting in the Lord
I like this psalm, because there is a peace that pervades it. Yes, there is turmoil in the words, but one gets the sense that its author, although harried, finds peace in prayer to the Lord, and in His promises of protection.
The attitude of this psalm is also much better than that of the last few psalms I’ve written about. There is a more complete trusting in God, and its author isn’t concerned with revenge. Instead, I find this: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you, in God, whose word I praise, in God I put my trust and have no fear, what can mortal man do to me?” This is beautiful! Incidentally, it parallels Psalm 27: “Yahweh is my light and my salvation, whom should I fear? Yahweh is the fortress of my life, whom should I dread?”
The same feelings are mirrored in verses 1 and 11: “This I know, that God is on my side. In God whose word I praise, in Yahweh whose word I praise, in God I put my trust and have no fear; what can mortal man do to me?” Lest you think David’s being repetitive here, think about this: what more is there to say, when we trust in God? No matter what the problem is, we know God will take care of it.
