◄ What Does Psalm 56:4 Mean? ►

In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid What can mere man do to me?

Psalm 56:4(NASB)

Verse of the Day

How hard it is to know that you are in God's will and fulfilling His purpose in your life, and yet have powerful people opposing you, and jealous enemies trying to take your life. David was such a man, who had been anointed by Samuel, the prophet, to be Israel's future king. Because King Saul had disobeyed the Lord, his kingly position was to be removed and given to David.

Saul had broken the Law by making an unlawful sacrifice to God. This was an act, which could only be undertaken through the priestly line of Levi. Only one Man, in the history of the world, has the authority to be Prophet, Priest, and King - the Lord Jesus Christ - our God and Saviour. Knowingly or unknowingly, Saul had elevated himself into a messianic role, which Christ alone could fulfil - which greatly angered the Lord.

King Saul did evil in the sight of the Lord, and so his rulership over Israel was terminated. His kingly authority was to be given to David, the son of Jesse - the shepherd boy of Israel, who killed Goliath. David was a man after God's own heart. He was called and chosen to be Israel's greatest king, and yet we discover that his life was plagued with adversity and surrounded by various enemies. He was hated by many and attacked on all sides, but David had trusted God from his childhood and had proved the Lord to be faithful to His Word.

So David began his prayer, in Psalm 56, by crying out for divine help, and godly intervention. "Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me. Fighting all day long he oppresses me." David bewailed that his foes 'swallowed him up' all day long. He lamented that his enemies arrogantly fought against him - despite being the Lord's anointed.

The supplicatory prayer of this oppressed servant of God quickly turned into a declaration of God's precious promises, which remain as relevant to God's servants in the 21st century, as they were when David was being hotly pursued by Saul, and his enemies were constantly attacking him. "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You," he announced, with great boldness, "I will trust in God, whose word I praise. In God, I have put my trust. I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?"

David did not simply plead for God's protection, but in faith, he claimed God's precious promises as his own. David's statement of faith in God was a demonstration of faith in action as he claimed God's promises to Israel in his particular situation. David was prepared to claim what was rightfully his. He was prepared to make a statement of fact, because God's Word is true and the promises of God applied to him, personally.

Too often, as Church age believers, we plead, and petition, and ask, and beg the Lord to give us what is already ours, by faith in Christ. God has given us all we need for life and godliness. In His divine power, He has given us everything required to live a holy life, through the knowledge of Him - through faith in Christ, Who called us by His own glory and goodness.

Too often we do not fully access the hope of His calling, which are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints - in US! Too often we do not access the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. The privileges and promises of God are already ours, in accordance with the working of the strength of His might... which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in heavenly places - so that IN HIM, we too have been raised up with Christ, and seated with Him in the heavenly places!!!!!

We are already victorious in Christ against all enemies, foreign and domestic - human and spiritual. Victory is already ours in Him - what CAN mere man do to us? Why SHOULD we be afraid? Should we not ALL be ready and able to declare the truth? Should we not declare boldly, and in faith... "It is God, whose word I praise! In God, I have put my trust! I shall not be afraid! What can mere man do to me?"

AHH, but be careful Christian, that you do not fall into the trap of the ungodly "Word of Faith" movement, who promote their unbiblical 'positive declarations', and delight in their heretical, 'name-it-and-claim-it' behaviour, which is an abomination to the Lord. These "Word of Faith" preachers deceive countless numbers of people, who buy into their false gospel, in the belief that God will supply all they want... if they simply make a positive proclamation! These fools believe that declaring their own words and wishes, will force God to carry out their carnal desires and provide them with an abundance of health and wealth, simply because they named what they want and claim it as their right. By cherry-picking scriptures, taking them out of context and using them to promote their unbiblical doctrine is a total distortion of the truth and a slur on the goodness of God.

GOD FORBID, that David's beautiful demonstration of trust in God... when he declared the Lord's faithfulness in fulfilling all His precious promises, by proclaiming the biblical truths, be used to support the unbiblical, and heretical "Word of Faith" teachings!

May we be bold in declaring the goodness of God in the land of the living. May we be prepared to access ALL the many privileges we have, because we are positioned in Christ - by faith. May we come boldly before the throne of grace, and declare God's Word as fact, in the face of the enemy, so that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need- just as David did, when man tramples us, fights against us, and oppresses us all day long.

And may we declare, with godly boldness, "The Lord is MY God, Whose word I praise. In God, I have placed my faith. The Lord is my Helper, I shall not be afraid. The Lord is the strength of my life. What can mere man do to me?"

My Prayer

Thank You, Father, that You are the Lord my God in Whom I have placed my trust. Thank You for the bold declarations of David, whose trust in You was reflected in the courageous words he spoke. Thank You that there is nothing to fear from any man, nor from Satan's demonic hosts, for You have promised to keep us safe from all the evils and from those that oppose us. Like David, I proclaim in Jesus' name, "I shall not be afraid of what mere man can do to me, for in You O God have I put my trust". Praise Your holy name, AMEN.