Psalm 56 - Paranoia

Psalm 56:1, 3-4, 8-11, 13 (NIV)

Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit; 

all day long they press their attack.

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— 

in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?

Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll — 

are they not in your record? 

Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. 

By this I will know that God is for me. 

In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise— 

in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?

For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, 

that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Psalm 56 is another prayer for help against one's enemies. As I read this morning I couldn't help think that the psalmist sounded paranoid. People are plotting against him all day long. They watch his every step. They are just waiting for an opportunity to bring him down.

Paranoia can be just as real as an actual threat. The fear is so great that a body feels under attack. In such a state one can become paralyzed or lash out uncontrollably like a cornered animal desperate to escape a predator.

I love how the psalmist is so very clear how to deal with fear. "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." (Psa 56:3)

Last night we were working at Vacation Bible School, and we were discussing just how big God is. God fills the whole universe. That's beyond enormous! It's mind boggling! As I was asking the children about how big God is, one said, "I don't know I've never seen Him." The psalmist sees God, but not like one sees a person. The writer sees God in His word. In His word we meet the living God. And so the psalmist praises God for His word often in this psalm.

God's word includes promises. God's word includes narratives recounting His deeds among the people Israel. The reader of His word is encouraged and trusts God to do for them what God has done for His faithful throughout history. The psalmist sees God active in his life. He trusts that God knows his every tear and writes it down, keeping an account of the injustices he is experiencing at the hands of his enemies. He trusts that he will see God act to bring down his enemies. He knows God's word is more than ink and page. It is alive and doing God's will in the world.

With such trust in God the psalmist is certain he will "walk before God in the light of life."

Do you see God at work in your life? Can you account for the many times God has moved to act upon His promises for you? How will you respond to fear? Freeze? Fight? Flee? Or Faith?