This is Michtam – a golden Psalm…it is upon Jonathelemrechokim, which signifies the silent dove afar off.

Matthew Henry

In 1864 the phrase “In God we Trust” first appeared on United States coins. It did not, however, become the official motto of the nation until 1956 during the Presidency of Dwight Eisenhower. It seems that in the post war era with the Cold War escalating Congress was attempting to put philosophical clear water between Christian America and the atheistic communism of the Soviet Union. On the fiftieth anniversary of this inspiring motto George W. Bush made this significant statement in 2006:

As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of our national motto and remember with thanksgiving God’s mercies throughout our history, we recognize a divine plan that stands above all human plans and continue to seek His will.

In 2011 Congress, by an overwhelming majority voted to reaffirm this precious motto. Secularists in the United States despise the motto claiming it is a violation of the separation between church and state. All legal challenges have so far been rebuffed.

Despite the darkness of our times words such as these are truly meaningful as they speak to the significant Christian heritage that the western world enjoys and the role that Christianity has fulfilled in shaping western culture and thought.

Such a motto, however, did not originate with the United States, or even the Protestant Reformation or the apostles of Christ. These are words rooted in the faith of the Old Testament saints, which David articulates so definitely in the Psalm 56. The idea of trusting God dominates the Psalm, forming what Hebrew scholars call the chorus:

Psalms 56:4
In God I will praise his word,
in God I have put my trust; I will not fear
what flesh can do unto me.

Psalms 56:10,11
In God will I praise his word:
in the LORD will I praise his word.
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid
what man can do unto me.

The Problems for Trusting God

Faith groweth valiant in the fight; albeit it began like a coward, and staggered in the first conflict

David Dickson

God often brings our problems upon us, or he permits us to create difficulties for ourselves, that we might learn to trust. Faith is of no relevance if it cannot sustain us when there is no recourse or remedy in the natural world. When our backs are against the wall faith must work if it is real.

The title for this Psalm tells us that David was in Gath at the time of writing. 1st Samuel 21:10-15 informs us that after being given the sword of Goliath Ahimilech the High Priest at Nob, David fled alone to Achish King of Gath. He was on the run from Saul who committed his army to finding David. He had suffered betrayal and vilification. The only explanation for this mysterious flight to the home city of Goliath was desperation. Arriving in Gath he quickly realised that this was a terrible idea. To extricate himself he acted the madman before somehow slipping away to then dwell in Adullam’s cave with his men. It was this fearful experience which inspired the writing of the 56th Psalm; also Psalm 34.

If the heart stay on Christ in the midst of those doubtings, it is not an evil heart of unbelief.

Stephen Charnock

It is evident from the time of the Psalm that David suffered terrible fear as the Philistines lobbied their King for his execution.

Yet David declared:

Psalms 56:3
What time I am afraid,
I will trust in thee.

This Psalm encourages us to trust God when we feel threatened and under attack, or simply discouraged and frustrated.

Faith dissolves doubts as the sun drives away the mists

John Bunyan

There may be people twisting our words, as in David’s situation, or the enemy might be a circumstance such as bereavement or illness.

Whatever the issue we must not look at the problem but rather lift up our eyes to the one who is our God – the one who is truly trustworthy.

He encourages himself in God, and in His promises, power and providence…

Matthew Henry

The Plea when Trusting God

In the midst of his pain, when he had nowhere else to turn and nowhere to hide David simply cried unto God from the inner recesses of his soul.

Psalms 56:9
When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back:
this I know; for God is for me.

This cry was expression of trust; he believed that his enemies would turn back because God was in his side.

What is the value of praying if we do not believe that God can and will resolve our issues? Therefore, prayer must be more more than mere words. Our prayers are the cries of believing souls who have confidence, who know that God hears.

The Peace through Trusting God

I care for nothing visible or invisible, that I might get Christ. Let fire, the cross, the letting out of beasts upon me, breaking of my bones, the tearing of my members, the grinding of my whole body, and the torments of the devils come upon me , so be it I might get Christ.

Ignatius of Antioch before his martyrdom in the Roman Colosseum.

David had peace that God would execute justice upon his enemies:

Psalms 56:7
Shall they escape by iniquity?
in thine anger cast down the people, O God.

When we are troubled by the injustices of this world let us rest upon the God who will set up his throne and call this unrighteous world to account. The immoral law maker, the abortionist, the abuser, the murderer and a thousand other categories of hatred against God will be summonsed before the great judgment throne at the end of time. These people who make the world miserable by their hatred and ungodliness are only flesh – our God sits reigning in the heavens!

David had peace that God sympathised with his tears:

Psalms 56:8
Thou tellest my wanderings:
put thou my tears into thy bottle:
are they not in thy book?

It is said that the easterns carried little vials known as tear bottles. When they visited troubled friends they would weep together snd collect the tears. This was a reminder of the valley of affliction and the value of human fellowship at such a time. How comforting that we have an empathetic high priest, touched with our grief who supplies grace to help for every season of need! Our tears are so precious to Him that He bottles them up.

The wanderings that God saw in his fearful child tie in with the title of the Psalm. David had scarcely time to rest, like the dove hunted by the predator – but God cared for his soul.

David had peace because he had the word:

Psalms 56:10
In God will I praise his word:
in the LORD will I praise his word.

It is the word that gives us confidence; the God breathed, spirit inspired truth! The word lives because God lives, the word will never die because God will never die. We can never stop praising the word and the God of the word because not one jot or tittle can ever fall to the ground.

David had peace walking in the light:

Psalms 56:13
For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

The Psalm concludes with a doxology of praise. He was quite definite, however, that deliverance was for a purpose – that he might walk before God.

Christ made reference to Psalm 56:16 in John’s Gospel:

John 8:12
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

To walk with God is to be in His light, rejoicing in the certainty of His word, pursuing holiness and living for a purpose. This is the peace that David enjoyed beyond his problems. God remains the one who takes us out of darkness into light because in His light we see the light.