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The Ministry of Consolation.
#8.
"What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee" (Psa. 56: 3).
pp. 79, 80
The above words were uttered by David in the midst of daily conflict (vv. 1, 2). Trust
is the Lord, is very closely related to trust in His Word. Immediately after David says
"I will trust in THEE", he adds, "In God I will praise His WORD" and balances it with
"In God I have put my trust" (verse 4). Trust in the Lord and His Word dispels fear, even
before deliverance itself comes. This was David's experience as may be seen from
verses 10 and 11:--
"In God will I praise His Word; in the Lord will I praise His Word. In God have I put
my trust; I WILL NOT BE AFRAID what man can do unto me."
We commence with "what time I am afraid", we end with "I will not be afraid".
There is also a direct effect upon the cause of David's fear, as well as upon David
himself:--
"When I cry, then shall mine enemies turn back" (verse 9).
The very cry for help becomes a weapon of defence. Trust begets trust, even as fear
begets fear. David's confidence grows stronger as prayer leads him to the Most High
(verse 2). He looks at what God has done in the past, and makes an Ebenezer of it, a
starting point for future deliverances:--
"For Thou hast delivered my soul from death; wilt not Thou deliver my feet from
falling that I may walk before God in the light of the living?" (verse 13).
The "soul" is greater than the "feet", and "death" is more than "falling". He Who
delivered from death and translated into life will surely continually deliver from falling
that we may walk in the light.
Psa. 56: should be read through, noting the progress of thought. David's deliverer is
called "God", "The Most High", "The Lord". There are many things that occur around
us that send the chill of fear into our hearts, but let us take courage and say with the
Psalmist:--
"What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee."