We Need Not Fight Our Battles Alone

Psalm 56

Verses 1-2: O God, have mercy on me, for people are hounding me. My foes attack me all day long. I am constantly hounded by those who slander me, and many are boldly attacking me.

 

David said he was always being attacked. When I read this, I thought, people aren’t attacking me. How does this relate to me?

 

And yet, we all certainly do have an enemy.

 

1 Peter 5:8: Be alert and of sober mind.

Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

 

I don’t say this to frighten anyone. I say it to remind us to keep focused.

 

Psalm 56:3: But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

 

Like David, we do not need to fear defeat. We are not alone.

 

Verse 5: They are always twisting what I say; they spend their days plotting to harm me.

 

The devil uses these same tools to fight against us, but we can follow David’s example of prayer to God.

 

Verse 7: Don’t let them get away with their wickedness; in your anger, O God, bring them down.

 

We must not forget the tender way God watches over us.

 

Verse 8: You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.

 

Look at the promises we share with David.

 

Verse 9: My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side!

 

Verse 13 For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light.

 

Verse 10: I praise God for what he has promised; yes, I praise the Lord for what he has promised.