IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

What Can Mere Mortals Do to Me?

Date: Dec. 21, 2015

Passage

Psalm 56:1-13  (ESV)

To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

  Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;
    all day long an attacker oppresses me;
  my enemies trample on me all day long,
    for many attack me proudly.
  When I am afraid,
    I put my trust in you.
  In God, whose word I praise,
    in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can flesh do to me?
  All day long they injure my cause;
    all their thoughts are against me for evil.
  They stir up strife, they lurk;
    they watch my steps,
    as they have waited for my life.
  For their crime will they escape?
    In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!
  You have kept count of my tossings;
    put my tears in your bottle.
    Are they not in your book?
  Then my enemies will turn back
    in the day when I call.
    This I 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; I shall not be afraid.
    What can man do to me?
12   I must perform my vows to you, O God;
    I will render thank offerings to you.
13   For you have delivered my soul from death,
    yes, my feet from falling,
  that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 56:4

  In God, whose word I praise,
    in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can flesh do to me?

First, when I am afraid, I put my trust in you (1-8). David was harassed by many enemies who slandered, conspired, lurked, and watched his steps hoping to take his life. Especially now the strong enemy Philistines hotly pursued him, pressing their attack all day long and seizing him in Gath. He shed many tears in his misery. However, when David was afraid, he put his trust in God. He turned to the word of God. He then could overcome his fear saying, "What can mere mortals do to me?" God would bring down all his enemies because of his tearful prayers.

Second, iIn God whose word I praise (9-13). David was sure that the enemies would turn back, when he called for help and joyfully listened to the word of God. By this he would know that God was for him. He vowed to offer thanksgiving because God would deliver him from death and his feet from stumbling. He would walk before God in the light of life.

Prayer: Lord, I will trust in you alone when I am afraid. What can mortal man do to me?

One Word: In God I trust!

Daily Bread

Repent of Compromise with the World

Revelation 2:12-29

Key Verse: 2:16

Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

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