What can man do to you? Psalm 54-56

Psalms 56:1-4 (NASBStr)

 Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me;

 Fighting all day long he oppresses me.

 My foes have trampled upon me all day long,

For they are many who fight proudly against me.

 When I am afraid,

 I will put my trust in You.

 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?

Psalm 54-56 all carry the same theme.   David feels the oppression and attacks of his enemies and finds comfort from the God he has believed in from his youth.   In Psalm 55 the enemy is a close friend he had worshipped with (Saul?).  In Psalm 56, above, he is describing the day he ran from Saul and came to the city of Gath (home of Goliath, whom he slayed).  This is where David faked being crazy in hopes they would not kill him (1 Samuel 21:10,11).  He must have written these words AFTER that ridiculous incident in his life.   Although the crazy act worked, it was the picture we see above.   In these four verses we see that David acknowledges the pain of the enemy (his feelings) but puts complete trust in God for his life and limb (his faith).  Looking at man he had every reason to fear and to fret.   But, looking to God, his faith tells him he has NO reason to fear.    When you trust in God, what can man do to you?   God can kill the body AND the soul.   God has  the power to save and to slay.   David comes to the conclusion that his fears, though real, were unmerited in contrast to the faith he had in God.   Man can ridicule, laugh at, and punish us.   But, man can't do anything God won't allow.   God is in control of our lives and we can trust that He can and will deliver us from all enemies; friend or foe.