From: "Phil Rembleski" <PHIl@rescuechurchofchrist.org>

To: "1111RESCUEMEMBERS"

Cc:

Sent: Fri, Jul 9, 2021 at 5:42 AM

Subject: 7-9-21 THOUGHTS

7-9-21 THOUGHTS

It is interesting that we can place a psalm of David in the context of his life.  Yesterday, we reviewed Psalm 51,  placing it right after his Sin with Bathsheba.   Today we view Psalm 56 which was written during a terrible time in David’s life. Can you imagine having to feign madness in order to survive?   This great king from whose throne Christ ascended, had his difficult times. His heart always fled to the Lord!  There are many lessons for us here.
 
1Sam 21:10-22:1a      And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.  11  And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? 12  And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13  And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. 14  Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me? 15  Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house? 1Sam 22:1a  David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam:

Ps 56:1-13    « For the choir director; according to Jonath elem rehokim. A Mikhtam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. »  
Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me; Fighting all day long he oppresses me.  2  My foes have trampled upon me all day long, For they are many who fight proudly against me. 3  When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. 4  In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me? 5  All day long they distort my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil. 6  They attack, they lurk, They watch my steps, As they have waited to take my life. 7  Because of wickedness, cast them forth, In anger put down the peoples, O God! 8  You have taken account of my wanderings; 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 have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? 12  Your vows are binding upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to You. 13  For You have delivered my soul from death, Indeed my feet from stumbling, So that I may walk before God In the light of the living.
Rom 8:31    What then shall we say to these things? If God [is] for us, who [is] against us?
1John 4:4   You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

My Prayer:
Father, we increasingly see a world that would rather hate than love. We are cast down because of this. Return our hearts to you and lift us up with the knowledge of your Supremacy.  Increase our faith O God. We know that the victory has been won, and that we reside and abide in that victory. Sustain us to overcoming O Lord.         In Jesus name       Amen