Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

The tragic end of this rebellion fulfills David’s prediction; Absalom is killed by Joab and is buried in a pit and Ahithophel commits suicide in disgrace. “Meanwhile, Ahithophel was publicly disgraced when Absalom refused his advice. So he saddled his donkey, went to his hometown, set his affairs in order, and hanged himself.”(2 Sam. 17:23) Judas meets the same fate as his predecessor: “When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and other leaders. ‘I have sinned,’ he declared, ‘for I have betrayed an innocent man.’ ‘ What do we care? ‘ they retorted. ‘That’s your problem.’ Then Judas threw the money onto the floor or the Temple and went out and hanged himself.” (Mt. 27:3-5)

Rebellion and betrayal are suicide of the heart and soul.

PSALM 56: IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? Trusting God When You Are Afraid

David writes this psalm from a place of total helplessness. He has been captured by the Philistines and is being held in the city of Gath. From this circumstance he learns that he can trust completely in God who is on his side. This is one of the ‘golden (michtam) psalms’ of David. It is popularly known as a ‘twin’ with Psalm 57 as both begin with a cry for mercy and end with a celebration of God’s faithfulness. It is the first of David’s Elohim psalms (56-60) as Elohim, ‘The Mighty One’ is mentioned 9 times while Yahweh, ‘The Self-Existent One’ is referred to once. It is quoted 3 times in the New Testament; first by Jesus in John 8:12, then by Paul in Romans 8:31 and lastly by the writer to the Hebrews (13:6). Jesus is revealed as the Word of God in verses 4 and 10 and also as the Light of Life in verse 13. It is outlined in 4 sections:

I IN YOU I ‘TRUST’- 1-4 II THEY ‘TWIST’ MY WORDS- 5-7 III YOU COLLECT MY ‘TEARS’- 8-11 IV THE SACRIFICE OF ‘THANKS’- 12-13

INTRODUCTION:

“For the choir director: A Psalm of David, regarding the time the Philistines seized him in Gath. To be sung to the tune ‘Dove on distant Oaks.’”

David had just begun his life as a fugitive from his father-in-law, king Saul. He had gone to the priests in Nob and obtained Goliath’s sword. Because of his fear of Saul David had ventured to Gath, the home- town of Goliath, the hero of the Philistines whom he had slain a few years earlier. Now he is a captive by Israel’s bitter enemies and they begin to complain: “So David escaped from Saul and went to king Achish of Gath. But Achish’s officers weren’t happy about his being there. ‘Isn’t this David, the king of the land?’ they asked. ‘Isn’t he the one the people honor with dances, singing, ‘Saul has killed his thou- sands, and David his ten thousands’? David heard these comments and was afraid of what King Achish might do to him. So he pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard.” (1 Sam. 21:10-13) Achish sent him away because of his pretended ‘insanity’ and he memorializes this event with this beautiful song/prayer. The tune, “Dove on distant Oaks” reminds us of the previous Psalm 55 where David prayed: “Oh, how I wish I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!” (Ps. 55:6) David, God’s singing dove is now on a ‘distant Oak’ in the far away land of Philistia learning by faith to sing a new song of trust.

I IN YOU I TRUST - 1-4

“O God, have mercy on me. The enemy troops press in on me. My foes attack me all day long. My slanderers hound me constantly, and many are boldly attacking me.”(1,2)

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