◄ What Does Psalm 59:16 Mean? ►

But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress.

Psalm 59:16(NASB)

Verse of the Day

Like so many of the psalms that mean so much to God’s children, this is one that outlines the many problems, mountainous difficulties, troublous times, and numerous enemies that were surrounding David on every side. He wrote this psalm when Saul's hatred of him began to be openly displayed, and the bitter-hearted king sought out ways to murder David - who had to flee the country to save his life.

David opened up his heart to the Lord, and his urgent prayer for help and deliverance poured forth unabated. David felt that enemies trampled over him all day long and many more sought to kill him. Opposition from without and fears from within were the keynotes of this psalm, just as the external anxieties and internal struggles we face today, can similarly blight our own lives.

But after a catalogue of calamities and a long list of laments, the glories of God started to stream into view as the psalmist changes direction and continues by casting all his cares upon the Lord, and laying all of his burdens down at His Master’s feet. "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You," he wrote. And as his prayer moved into a crescendo of praise he continued, "I will trust in God, whose word I praise. In God I have put my trust and I shall not be afraid."

David chose to call to mind the faithfulness of God and reflect on the strength of his powerful Lord, Whose loving-kindness lasts for a thousand generations and Whose great goodness and mercy will follow all who trust in Him. His enemies may still seek his life, but David knew in Whom he believed and was convinced that the Lord was able to keep him, deliver him, protect him, and fulfil the promises He had made to His servant.

David took time to recall the many mercies of God and the tenderness of his Good Shepherd. "You have taken account of my wanderings," he wrote, "You have collected all my tears and put them in Your bottle." David knew the God of his salvation and was comforted to know that the Lord had scheduled every day of his life and that his name was written in God's precious book.

We see David's fearful attitude changing as his heart turned heavenward. His cries for help turned into a song of rejoicing as he recalled God's faithfulness. And he sang out, "But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength. Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, for You have been my stronghold and a refuge in the day of my distress."

Remembering His past mercies is indeed a wonderful way to remove all the enemies of doubt and fear that trouble our minds and linger in our hearts, and recalling His many precious promises, help to strengthen our faith in God. Like so many of the psalms of David that mean so much to us all, this is a reminder to glorify God in our darkest days as well as our times of joy. It is a reminder not to allow fear to take root in our heart but to speedily turn the eyes of our heart to Him.

The joy of the Lord strengthens our hearts and David was learning the benefit of lifting up his voice to the Lord in the morning hours. He was learning to remember God's former mercies - to recall that the Lord had been his stronghold in the past and had never failed him during his days of distress. Instead of dwelling on his problems, David quickly turned to prayer and praise - with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. And we should follow his example for it helps to bolster our faith and lighten the load.

Let us, with joyful abandon, sing of God’s power and make music in our hearts to Him, as we lift up holy hands to our faithful God and join our voices together in grateful hymns of praise, for His mercies are new every morning and His grace is sufficient, no matter what we are going through. Let us sing aloud of His mercy in the morning and reflect on His goodness and grace all day long.

Let us rejoice and be glad for God is our Defence and our Defender. He is our Refuge in the day of my trouble and our Stronghold from the storms of life. From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same, may we worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness and bow down before Him, for His name is greatly to be praised.

My Prayer

Thank You, Father, for the book of Psalms that so often comforts my soul in difficult times and refreshes my heart in distressing circumstances. Help me not to focus on life's external problems nor the internal doubts that can enter my mind and cause me to fear. Help me, Lord, to bring to mind Your precious promises of refreshment and supply, and to cast all my burdens on You. Praise the Lord O my soul and all that is within me praise Your glorious name. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.