Psalms 56:1-13 - Homilies By C. Short

The struggle and victory of faith.

The contents of this psalm may be summed up as the struggle and the victory of faith.

I. THE STRUGGLE OF FAITH . He is in great fear and danger on account of the plots and wickedness of his enemies. They fight against him with the most dangerous weapons they can command. He does not seek to defend himself with counter plots such as they employed. What are his weapons? The one mighty weapon of trust in God.

1 . In the merciful protection of the Almighty One. ( Psalms 56:1 .) In the power of God as contrasted with the weakness of man.

2 . In the word of God's eternal promise. "When I am encompassed with fear, then do I trust and praise his faithful word" ( Psalms 56:3 and Psalms 56:4 ).

3 . In God's retributive justice. ( Psalms 56:7 .) That he will overturn and punish all evil doers.

4 . In the tenderness and strength of the Divine sympathy. God counts his sighs, put his tears in his bottle, and records them in his book of remembrance.

II. THE VICTORY OF FAITH . ( Psalms 56:9-13 .)

1 . And will put his enemies to flight when he calls upon him. ( Psalms 56:9 .) Of this he is triumphantly assured, even against all present appearances.

2 . He knows that God is on his side. ( Psalms 56:9 .) God always on the side of the righteous, to protect them from all real harm. "If God be for us, who can be against us?"

3 . He sees his salvation as an already accomplished fact. ( Psalms 56:13 .) Faith sees the future in the present, and the distant in the near (Hebrew Psalms 11:1 ).

4 . He is thus filled with the spirit of praise and fidelity. ( Psalms 56:12 .) Will perform his vows and render thanks. "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even your faith."—S.