Be gracious to me, O God, for people trample on me; all day long foes oppress me; my enemies trample on me all day long, for many fight against me. O Most High, when I am afraid, I put my trust in [Y]ou. In God whose word I praise, in God I trust; I am not afraid; what can flesh do to me? Psalm 56: 1-4, NRSV.
Heavenly Parent, as we enter the study of Your Word today, please help us to remember that when the help of humans fail; Jesus never fails! In His name we pray. Amen.
For the next two days, we will shift the focus of our study slightly. We will resume the “hard questions” that are asked in the Psalms; on Monday. Today, and tomorrow, we will be looking at some of the “hard knocks” that come to us from others. No one likes to be treated badly. People need people; that is a given. God created us for communion with Himself, and with others. That is why loneliness is so painful! We were created to live in community. When there is a breakdown in our relationships we suffer. Sometimes the emotional pain is so severe that it manifests itself physically. We refer to these illnesses as psychosomatic.
Some months ago we made mention of a woman who had suffered from a severe case of arthritis (her fist was clenched so tightly that it could not be opened), who was healed shortly after she and her sister were reconciled. This is just one of many such cases. In our Psalm for today, the psalmist is burdened by the treatment of his enemies. Notice the selection of words he uses to describe the treatment he receives: “people trample upon me.” To trample on someone is to tread on him or her, in a way that causes harm, or injury. Speaking figuratively, that is how the psalmist feels; as if he is being “stepped upon.” It is done with the intention of inflicting pain; deep emotional pain, it is a “put down;” not momentarily, or from time to time; but all day long!
“Foes oppress me; brings to my mind the treatment given to slaves. In Exodus 1: 11 we read, “Therefore they set taskmasters over them to oppress them.” It is a harsh form of “dominating,” and/or, “inflicting stress,” upon someone. The stress, I imagine, is caused by the act of dominating, which carries with it the component of humiliation. It is interesting to note that when God gave human beings dominion, it was not over other human beings, but over the lower forms of life (Genesis 1: 28)! Only in a world made imperfect by sin, did dominion over other human beings come into effect. It was never God’s plan!
“Many fight against me.” We all know what fighting does. We see it in domestic violence; among peers; among nations. It has its roots in the “survival of the fittest” theory. That is why it is never a win-win situation. Fighting, like trampling, and dominating, causes division. It divides us into “winners,” and “losers;” “oppressed,” and “oppressors,” the “trampled,” and “those who get trampled upon.” It is in complete disagreement with “God’s perfect society.”
It is at times like these that the psalmist looks to the Lord his God for deliverance, “In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I am not afraid. What can a mere mortal do to me” (10, 11)? And if He is your God, you too, have nothing to be afraid of!
I invite you to trust Jesus today, if you have never accepted Him as your personal Savior from sin. If you do, I would love to hear from you, so that I can provide you with additional literature to help you grow in the Lord. May you be blessed!