Deeper Reflection
DAVID PROBABLY WROTE this psalm in the context of the Philistines
seizing him when he fled to Gath from King Saul (see 1 Sam 21:10). The
key discipleship principle for us is found in verse 3: “When I am afraid,
I put my trust in You.” David puts His trust in God by: (1) Holding fast
to God’s Word (vv.4, 10); and (2) Resting fully in God’s faithfulness (v.9b).
First, God’s Word is trustworthy. His promises are true. Therefore,
God’s Word is praiseworthy! Let us hold fast to God’s Word, thereby
putting our trust in Him whenever we feel afraid. Second, God is faithful
to His people. He is on our side. Since God is for us, we need not fear
man (vv.4b, 11). Others can do their worst to us, but God will defend
and vindicate us. Whenever we are afraid, let us put our trust in God by
resting fully in God’s faithfulness. But you may say, “Does God know and
understand what I am going through?” The Psalmist’s answer to you is
expressed vividly in verse 8: “You have kept count of my tossings; put my
tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?” The fact is, God counts
the number of times we toss in bed due to our unsettled feelings of fear
and insecurity. He collects our tears of pain, loneliness, anger and sadness.
God keeps a personal record of all these things, because He cares for us
and pays close attention to us. Our Heavenly Father redeems our broken
past, restores our inner joy and reassures us of our glorious destiny.
