Psalm 56:1-8
1 Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit; all day long they press their attack.
2 My adversaries pursue me all day long; in their pride many are attacking me.
3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
5 All day long they twist my words; all their schemes are for my ruin.
6 They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, hoping to take my life.
7 Because of their wickedness do not let them escape; in your anger, God, bring the nations down.
8 Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll— are they not in your record? [1]
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What stands out for me in this passage is verse 4: “What can mere mortals do to me?”
Obviously people can do a lot. David is feeling quite threatened by his adversaries and their relentless pursuit. So on the one hand, he does fear them and their attacks. But when he is afraid, he says, he puts his trust in God. This changes his perspective. Trusting in God, he makes the startling statement “what can mere mortals do to me.”
I don’t think David is being delusional or is in denial about the very real harm that people can do to one another. Christians are hurt daily – emotionally and physically – all over the world. But David’s confidence comes from knowing that ultimately his life and destiny are in the hands of a God who loves him, and has pledged Himself in covenant to David.
As followers of Christ, we are assured of Christ’s presence, His answer to our prayers, His work in the hardships of our lives – but we are never promised a life free from suffering and opposition. On the contrary, Jesus describes following Him as carrying a cross. When we pray this psalm – “what can mere mortals do to me” – we are recognizing that even the worst that people can do to us pales compared to the blessings of the God who is with us through it all. All of the hardships of this world fade in the light of the resurrection blessings that are in store for us (Romans 8:18).
So my prayer is for those who are undergoing suffering, in particular opposition for their faith. I pray that the Holy Spirit fill and guide them into a faith like David’s, focused on the blessings and promises of God.
What is the Word leading you to pray about today?
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[1] The New International Version. (2011). (Ps 56:1–8). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
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