By Chaplain Nathanael Logan
Editor’s Note: Nathanael and his wife Elizabeth serve as chaplains to the United States Army, stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Sonrise has the privilege to be their sending church. This past Wednesday evening, Chaplain Logan participated in our Mid-Week Prayer and Praise service. He helped us think through Psalm 56.
Pressures, Suffering, and Sin
Just as is common to all people, my family has gone through various pressures, suffering, and sin of different kinds. More than just merely possible, the probability is that this is true for your life as well. Today, I look to Psalm 56 for strength. King David writes this poem when the Philistines seized him at Gath. He is under extreme pressure as men sin against him.
Psalm 56
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?
9 Then my enemies will turn back
when I call for help.
By this I will know that God is for me.10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise—
11 in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can man do to me?12 I am under vows to you, my God;
I will present my thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered me from death
and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.
Helpful Observations for Handling Pressure
- David’s request is for grace (vv. 1-2). He is looking for God’s favor in his circumstance. He is asking this for good reason. There are men sinning against him. I am a combat veteran. I fought as an enlisted Soldier in Afghanistan. I know what it is like to be shot at. I know what it is like to dodge artillery and to have to be on alert for and move around land mines. But I have never been a POW as David. As I mentioned above, I highly doubt there are too many people who don’t know what it feels like to be sinned against. Perhaps not to the degree that David is experiencing, but we do understand the difficulty of other people who intentionally sin against us.
Yet, David writes this poem which declares a very real scene of strength in the middle of his circumstance. As Christians we pray to change our circumstances, but that is not our primary concern. We want a new heart and a new power in the Holy Spirit to walk in a new relationship in Jesus. - David ties trust and overcoming fear together (vv. 3-4). This is a familiar theme – “Faith over fear.” Here David draws a clear correlational to trust and overcoming fear. Think about it: If I trust someone, I typically have little reason to fear him or her.
- God knows our pain (vv. 8-9). David proclaims that God knew and kept a record of the pain David felt. How wonderful to know that God knows our pain and keeps a record of it. Appropriately, David declares, “God is for me!” How awesome! This is amazing. No wonder he brings up the issue of sovereignty. By asking a question, David highlights who is truly sovereign (vv. 4, 11). He emphasizes Who is truly in control. His question, “What can man do to me?”
- David praises God (vv. 12-13). He openly praises God. He identifies God’s help in the midst of His trouble. How awesome.
A Practical Response to Pressures
Remember that God is watching and is keeping a record of all our grief, pain and distress. He has a purpose in all our difficulties. We may not want various pressures, but we know He is for us. Life is not about our comfort, but about our sanctification for the glory of God.
A good activity for those who are being sinned against or those struggling with fear is to make a list of five things that you can trust about God. Make sure you write them down as personal statements. Here are two examples to get you started: I can trust that God has appointed my governmental leaders over me (Rom 13:1-8). I can trust that God will work this out for my sanctification and that of others (Rom 828-29).
Once you have written your five things that you can trust about God, then write out five praises which specifically thank God for the five things that you can trust about Him.
By thanking God through praise, we do the following three things which also prove helpful to us in pressure:
- We change the focus of our minds from things insecure to things secure.
- We create a heart of gratefulness.
- We do something. Biblical faith and trust is more that just believing. It is belief that leads us to action.
Praise is the natural response of those who can trust a loving, gracious sovereign God.
Today, in your own pressure, may you realize and experience the strength God provides you.
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together