When there seems no way Out

Read Psalm 56.

This song recounts the time David ran from Saul's attempts to kill him, only to find himself taken captive by the Philistines (1 Samuel 21).  As the enemy held their prize catch, they daily waited and plotted how they would destroy him.

Afraid?  Yes.  Humanly speaking, he faced certain death.  The mighty warrior cried.

In those times when our faith in God is all we have we discover (or learn anew) that God is all we need!

Here are some of his insights from having gone through this near death experience.

1. Fear and Faith. (vv.3-4)

These are opposites and in the middle of a crisis a believer can have both at the same time.  Fear causes us to focus on all the bad stuff that could happen and destroy our hope.  Faith looks beyond the circumstances to what the all-powerful God of heaven can do.  David's commitment was, "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."

2. Tossing and Tears. (vv.8-11)

Picture him pacing in his imprisonment during the day, tossing and turning at night, weeping over the situation.  Yet, his faith in the LORD strengthened him with two truths.  First, God sees the personal suffering of people and keeps exact records.  The imagery is that He counts every tear and stores them up for that day of reward and rejoicing in His presence.  Second, God is not mad at him.  God is not the enemy.  He is on our side.  Nothing happens in the life of the believer that does not come through the filter of the Father.  His goal is our good and His glory.  (Romans 8:28)

3. Light and Life. (vv.12-13)

What can a person do who is feeling, or perhaps literally, trapped?  David discerned there were a several important things for him to practice while he waited on God.

-"I must perform my vows to you, O God."

It was time to behave like one who believed in the LORD.  God expected it of him.  He needed to do it.  Others were watching to see how he would respond.

-"I will render thank offerings to you."

It was time praise God, even when he did not feel like it.  Three times in this psalm he wrote, "in whose word I will praise."  In the book of Acts, Paul and Silas sang praises to the LORD when they were jailed and God performed multiple miracles as a result.  There is power in praise.

-He visualized his deliverance, not his demise.  Notice how he speaks of his deliverance in the past tense as if it already took place.  That is confident faith.  And, why would God deliver him?  So that this faithful man could continue to live for God.

Hard circumstances?  Yes.  But we keep on going, not somehow, but in His strength, in His light, in His life.