IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

In God I Trust and Am Not Afraid

Date: Jul. 15, 2021

Passage

Psalms 56:1-13

In God I Trust

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

56:1   Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;
    all day long an attacker oppresses me;
2   my enemies trample on me all day long,
    for many attack me proudly.
3   When I am afraid,
    I put my trust in you.
4   In God, whose word I praise,
    in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can flesh do to me?
5   All day long they injure my cause;
    all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6   They stir up strife, they lurk;
    they watch my steps,
    as they have waited for my life.
7   For their crime will they escape?
    In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!
8   You have kept count of my tossings;
    put my tears in your bottle.
    Are they not in your book?
9   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: Psalms 56:3-4

3   When I am afraid,
    I put my trust in you.
4   In God, whose word I praise,
    in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can flesh do to me?

David's time in Gath is recorded in 1Sa. 21:11-15.

David fled from Saul and hid in the enemy territory where he was recognized as Israel's hero. He had to pretend madness to escape the Philistine king's condemnation. Wherever he turned, he was surrounded by enemies who wanted to take his life. At the time of dread, David decided to trust God and praised his words (3-4). By holding onto the word of God's promise and protection, he could overcome his fear.

David trusted that God was merciful and cared about his sorrow. Can you imagine a mother blotting her child's tears drop by drop, recognizing his misery? That was the image of God David saw as he asked him to list his tears (8).

As David remembered God's mercy through his words, David knew he was not miserably alone and had an assurance of God's protection. With hope, he looked ahead to the day when he would walk before God in the light of life (13). What is the picture you have when you think of your hope in God?

Prayer: Prayer: Father, thank you for guiding me faithfully according to your promise. I find my hope and peace when I turn to you.

One Word: One Word: In God, I am not afraid.

Daily Bread

We Are Your Sheep, Lord

Psalm 79:1-13

Key Verse: 79:13

But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

Read More

Intro Daily