>>>

Psalm 56:3-4 - Fear And Respect God Not Man.

Psalm 56:3-4 (NIV) When I am afraid, I will trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?

Psalm 56:3-4 (NLT) But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. 4 I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me?

INTRODUCTION

David stated, "What can mere mortals do to me?" How much harm can people do to us? They can inflict pain, suffering, and death. But no person can rob us of our souls or our future beyond this life. How much harm can we do to ourselves? The worst thing we can do is to reject God and lose our eternal life. Jesus said, "Don't be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul" (Matthew 10:28). Instead, we should fear God, who controls this life and the next. [Life Application SB]

COMMENTARY PEARL

   He whose heart is fixed to serve God will find opportunity to witness for Him. Difficulties will be powerless to hinder him who is determined to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. In the strength gained by prayer and a study of the word, he will seek virtue and forsake vice. Looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of the faith, who endured the contradiction of sinners against Himself, the believer will willingly brave contempt and derision. And help and grace sufficient for every circumstance are promised by Him whose word is truth. His everlasting arms encircle the soul that turns to Him for aid. In His care we may rest safely, saying, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee." Psalm 56:3. To all who put their trust in Him, God will fulfill His promise.
   By His own example the Saviour has shown that His followers can be in the world and yet not of the world. He came not to partake of its delusive pleasures, to be swayed by its customs, and to follow its practices, but to do His Father's will, to seek and save the lost. With this object before him the Christian may stand uncontaminated in any surroundings. Whatever his station or circumstances, exalted or humble, he will manifest the power of true religion in the faithful performance of duty.
   Not in freedom from trial, but in the midst of it, is Christian character developed. Exposure to rebuffs and opposition leads the follower of Christ to greater watchfulness and more earnest prayer to the mighty Helper. Severe trial endured by the grace of God develops patience, vigilance, fortitude, and a deep and abiding trust in God. It is the triumph of the Christian faith that it enables its followers to suffer and be strong; to submit, and thus to conquer; to be killed all the day long, and yet to live; to bear the cross, and thus to win the crown of glory. AA467-468

COMMENTARY

Not Phobic
   Your heart starts beating rapidly. Your hands are sweating. Your mouth goes dry. You might be experiencing a phobia, a persistent and excessive fear of an object or situation. Common phobias include ophidiophobia, fear of snakes, and acrophobia, fear of heights. Less well-known are phobias like arachibutyrophobia, fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth, or trypophobia, a fear of patterns of holes, like those seen in honeycomb.
   However unassuming the object or situation may seem, the fear, nonetheless, is very real for the one experiencing the phobia. In Psalm 56, David's fear is just as tangible. "Man would swallow me up," he wrote (v. 1). "My enemies would hound me all day, ... they lie in wait for my life" (vv. 2,6). David was terrified, having fled from the persecution of King Saul into the hands of his enemies, the Philistines (1 Samuel 21:10-12). He had no earthly safety or comfort, no one he could trust - except God.
   It is in this forlorn and forgotten state that we find today's Bible promise. Whenever he felt fear overtake him, David turned to God, his only Help: "In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?" (Psalm 56:4). David believed that God would help him to overcome his fear with Bible truth. In the psalm he repeated this phrase: "I will praise His word" (w. 4, 10).
   When we turn and rest our thoughts on the solid evidence of the Bible, the promise that David claimed is ours too. God's Word will actually turn our fear into faith, our panic into peace, our worry into wisdom, for God's Word ensures: "You have delivered my soul from death" (v. 13).
   Dear Jesus, whenever I am afraid, teach me how to overcome by trusting in You and claiming the promises in Your Word. [The Most Amazing Bible Promises by Amazing Facts]

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY

2 Timothy 2:1 - Power in Union with Christ!
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200815-0851.html

Matthew 10:28 - Fear And Respect God And Find No Need To Fear Man.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240514-0954.html

Isaiah 41:10 - Fear Not for I Am With You!
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240227-0820.html

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/