May 19, 2009
FIGHTING FEAR WITH PRAISE
Psalm 57
Greg May
Central Truth
As a child of God, I have the privilege to respond to scary situations with praise and thanksgiving because God is always greater than my circumstances.
Key Verse | Psalm 57:9
I will give you thanks before the nations, O Master!
I will sing praises to you before foreigners!
(Psalm 57:9)
Psalm 57
Let Your Glory Be over All the Earth
To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam 1 57:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.
1
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.
2
I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3
He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!
4
My soul is in the midst of lions;
I lie down amid fiery beasts—
the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.
5
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!
6
They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7
My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
8
Awake, my glory!
2
57:8
Or my whole being
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
9
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10
For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
11
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!
Dive Deeper | Psalm 57
Have you ever seen The Worst-Case Scenario Show?
Well, it’s not an actual show. It’s my name for what’s going on inside my head when I wake up at 3:00 a.m. for no reason. The storyline is: for whatever is preoccupying me, I can imagine the worst-case scenario as though it were real and inevitable.
Maybe you’ve seen this show, too?
These are scary times, saturated with financial loss and economic uncertainty. Aren’t the Psalms God’s gift to us for just such times? David knew the feeling of being frightened in the night (v. 4), of being “bowed down in distress” (v. 6, NIV). Granted, when we encounter him in Psalm 57, he is hiding for his life in a cave from a murderous king, but aren’t our contemporary dangers – real or imagined – just as disabling?
I’ve experienced periods of deep discouragement in the past, brought about by various losses, self-inflicted and otherwise. I haven’t always responded well in these times, so I'm really encouraged by David’s response to his discouragement. First, he seeks God’s mercy and help (v. 1-2). I love the imagery in verse 1 of a young bird seeking shelter beneath its parent’s wing. In that condition the baby bird isn’t conscious of danger at all – only of the protective comfort that surrounds him.
Next, David openly admits his fears (vv. 4, 6). And then he immediately claims victory in the Lord:
"I am determined, O God! I am determined! I will sing and praise you! . . . I will wake up at dawn! I will give you thanks before the nations, O Master!" (vv. 7-9)
This is how I'm called to respond to my own fears, not by plucking up my own courage, but by becoming a man who, like David, instinctively seeks encouragement in God. Psalm 57 is my reminder that, as a child of God, I always have the option of praising Him and thanking Him, regardless of my circumstances. This privilege to combat fear with praise restores my confidence and puts it where it belongs: in God alone (2 Corinthians 3:4-5).
Discussion Questions
1. What is discouraging you these days? What are you afraid of?
2. How are you coping with your fear and discouragement?
3. Have you ever tried combating fear by praising God and thanking Him for who He is?
4. What was that like when you tried it? Or if you haven't tried it, what do you think it could be like?