Psalm 56

Psalm 56 was written by King David when he was captured by the Philistines at Gath.  Just like us his first reaction was that of terror ! "Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up." ( verse 1 ).  Then he goes on in verse three to remember that God has got this... "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you." Here we learn that trust in God is NOT an emotional response but is a decision that is made to walk by faith and not by sight !!  Can you do that ?  Not many can or do.

Verses 5 - 7 continue to explain how badly he has been treated and is explaining to God what is going on (as if God doesn't know). Then we see King David change by choice to trust in God by recounting all that God has done for him in the past in verses 8 - 11. He ends verse 11 by saying, " I will not be afraid. What can man do to me ?" The psalm ends by David remembering promises he made to God and ends it by saying, " That I may walk before God in the light of the living ?"

Psalm 55

" Trust In God Concerning The Treachery Of Friends" is the heading of this psalm. This psalm alternates between David laying bare his soul to God, praying for the destruction of his "friends",  and confidence in God to deliver him.  The first 8 verses show the absolute desperation David feels at the betrayal of his friends. Many theologians believe this was written about Absalom when David's son tried to overthrow him. Verse 4 lends credence to this, " My heart is severely pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me."  By verse 9 David has laid his soul bare and is now asking God to destroy the people who are trying to kill him. In verse 15 he gets specific," Let death seize them;let them go down alive into hell, for wickedness is in their dwellings and among them." David is remembering that God had done this one other time to the people who had tried to overthrow Moses ! So there is biblical evidence that God has done this in the past !!!   Verse 16 now shows that David has full confidence in God to save him when he says, " As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me."  Once again we see a biblical truth within the word. If WE call upon God to be forgiven of our sin....the Lord shall save US. By verse 20 David goes back to asking for their destruction and telling why. Verse 22 is a very famous verse and for us Christians is what we have faith in ! " Cast your burden on the Lord,and he shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." If every Christian had faith in this, we would see a mighty move of God in this world ! When I teach this concept I use a very easy phrase to remember, but if done will change your walk with God forever ! It goes like this, " Listen and obey".

Psalm 54

In this short psalm of 7 verses, it's main message is deliverance. It can easily be divided into three parts. Asking, expecting, and thanking God for deliverance. The setting for this psalm was shortly after David becomes king and goes to a town and saves the people from the Philistines. You would think the people would be thankful, but they were mad at David because they saw him as a traitor to king Saul ! When David learns of this is when he writes this psalm. It is obvious that they were non-believers as the end of verse 3 says," They have not set God before them."  Verse 7 starts, " For He has delivered me out of all trouble;"  This shows David's faith in expecting God to protect His own ! Just as we would protect our children, So God protects His children. He did it in David's time and He does it in our time. Amen !!!

Psalm 53

"Folly of the Godless, and the restoration of Israel " is the heading of this psalm.If you go back and compare this psalm to psalm 14 you will find them almost identical. The main difference is that this psalm talks about a sudden military reversal that happens. Written by David after a certain military victory shows the power and purpose of God. There are many well known verses in this psalm. Verse 1 says," The fool has said in his heart, there is no God." This line of thinking is a continuation from psalm 52 where the folly of man ignoring God is in man. Verse 3 goes on ," Every one of them has turned aside; they have together become corrupt; There is none who does good, No, not one." David is describing how God sees mankind... and it is sad !  God can not find one who will inquire of God but relies on themselves in this battle. So God will intervene on behalf of the Jews ! This is a great spiritual lesson for us today !!!!!  God is looking for man who will inquire of Him and ask to be saved and He will save them. Is this YOU ??  The psalm ends on verse 6 where it says, " Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion ! ..." This was done in the form of Jesus !  Mine and your salvation has come out of Zion. All we have to do is seek and ask for forgiveness and God WILL save us.