Psalms 56:4-11 - Homiletics

The expression and the result of faith.

"In God I will praise his word," etc. This is not a vain repetition or a mere poetic burden. The meaning is enlarged and strengthened. In Psalms 56:4 that Divine name is used which speaks of the Almighty Creator, "God." In Psalms 56:10 this is repeated, but that personal name is added which speaks of God's covenant and faithfulness, "in the Lord" (equivalent to "Jehovah"). Again, in Psalms 56:4 the psalmist speaks of man in his weakness—"flesh;" but in Psalms 56:11 —"what man can do"—man in his utmost strength is defied to hurt one of God's refugees. Here is

I. THE EXPRESSION OF FAITH . "In God will I praise his word." The word of God is everywhere in Scripture the special object of faith, for this reason—that it is by his word, viz. his commands and his promises, that God enters into moral relations with us , and enables us to enter into such relations to him. Hence room not for mere vague faith, such as we might have in the Creator of the universe, the Almighty Ruler, the Author of our being; but direct personal trust, accepting and grasping God's word. The name "Jehovah" warrants this faith. The word of promise is chiefly meant. This faith is in contrast to all the causes and circumstances of fear and peril ( Psalms 56:1 , Psalms 56:2 ).

II. THE RESULT OF FAITH . "I will not fear." As love casts out the slavish fear of God—the fear which would drive or keep us from him ( 1 John 4:18 )—so faith casts out the fear of man. Let the arrows fly like hail; behind "the shield of faith" ( Ephesians 6:16 ) we are safe, not only from what "flesh and blood" can do, but from our spiritual foes ( Ephesians 6:12 ). Illustrate from such passages as Genesis 16:1 ; John 6:20 . Courage, therefore, is a duty. The courage of self-reliance belongs only to the strong, but the courage of reliance on God is within reach of the weakest. Man of the world, canst thou look the future in the face and say, "I will not fear"?