(2 Timothy 2:15)
 
 

The principle in this quote applied to those who lived godly lives in the Old Testament, too.  Such people have many enemies because they choose the path that Satan hates.  David was a man after God’s own heart, so it is to be expected that those who hated God would also hate David.  This psalm is one of the many statements in the Bible on this theme.  The strong emphasis here is the personal appeal of David and the personal attention he received from God.  The personal pronouns appear 34 times in the text of Psalm 56 in the King James Version.  The remarkable thing is to note how they appear.  The middle verse is verse 7, which has no personal pronouns, while the first six verses and the last six verses have 17 personal pronouns each! Read for yourself and note these words: I, my, me, and mine.  The application is simple—when you decide to live the godly life—as defined by the Bible—you can expect trouble!  But you can also expect God’s personal attention to be directed to your trials, tribulations, and prayers!

Let us note some things about this poem in light of the following three points:

I Need Your Personal Attention Daily (56:1-6).
My Enemies Need Your Personal Attention (56:7).
I Need Your Personal Attention For Life (56:8-13).

The first six verses of this psalm contain evidence that David really did need God’s personal attention every day. This can be summarized under three headings—

The characteristics of the enemies and their attacks.
The inability of David to conquer them on his own.
The truths about God that made it sensible to trust Him.

The enemy was intent on these things (and others): swallowing him, oppressing daily, working together against him, creating fear, twisting his words, thinking evil against him, plotting against him, and lying in wait for him.  They wanted his life!

David knew, from this situation, other events in his life, and from the nature of man, that he could not overcome without the help of “God most high.”

Therefore, he would present his plight to God, he would call Him by His mighty name, he would trust Him, he would praise His word, and he would not fear!

This middle verse of the poem is a claim that these wicked ones cannot escape their doom by committing more iniquity. It matters not how much they sin or how many enemies there are—the wrath of God will easily overthrow them.

The last six verses of the poem show that the cry of the troubled is heard and answered from on high—the mercy that was needed in verse one is available and applied to the circumstances of the righteous sufferer.  David knows that God is aware of his troubles and keeps them “in His book.”  He knows that God is for him—on his side.  Does this not remind you of the mighty statement of this in Romans 8—“If God be for us, who can be against us?”  In God, Who is the Lord, David had placed his trust.  He had done this because of God’s word, which had taught him to do this.  This, in turn, would give him the strength to overcome his fear of that which his enemies could do to him. He would keep this vow of trust, and move from trust to praise.  There was every reason to do this, for God had delivered him (and would deliver him again!).

All of this would allow him to walk—standing tall—“in the light of the living.” This final phrase implies that this walk was in the light (which gives life) as contrasted with the walk that is in darkness (which gives death; see John 1:1ff, and all of John 8).
    — Skip Andrews
 

SICK LIST:  Electa Wilson is in Joan Glancy for rehabilitation and can have visitors.  Theresa Heilman is having a second surgery for an infection in her jaw.  This is following root canal.    Prince Williams and Libby Grubb were ill Sunday.  Mary Jones had cataract surgery this past week.  Karen Clark’s sister is very ill in the hospital.  Let’s remember Steve Fishel and Donnas Fields in our prayers as they battle cancer.
GROUP 2:  Group 2 is in charge of the services at Plantation South at 1:30.  Also, please meet up front following evening services for visitation assignments.
SEEKING THE LOST:  Class will meet Thursday, June 8, at 7:30 and Sunday evening, June 25, following services.
CHILDREN’S CLASS:  5:30 today.
FOR THE RECORD: 
AM Class   114 
AM Worship   134
PM Worship   95
Wednesday   117
Contribution   $7155
Budget   $6500
NEW PHONE NUMBER:  Val Lowe has a new phone number:  678 417-0136.  Please update your directory

BIBLE CAMP:  June 22-25.  There is a sign-up sheet in the foyer for food.  Please check it out and help if you can.
 
 
 
  AWAY:  Ernest Burnette is in Nepal and Paul and April Meacham and Chuck and Jody Northrop are in Ukraine.