In Psalm 56 David is, again, praying for deliverance from enemies seeking his life.  Here, as in several other songs, he describes his situation, then calls on God to deliver him and vanquish those desiring to do him harm. In the middle of this Psalm, he has placed a short sentence that changes the entire tenor of the song. Immediately, the Psalm turns from turmoil and distress, to praise and thanksgiving.  Eight little words that, if read too hastily, may be overlooked for their significance.  After he calls on God to turn back his enemies, he says, “This I know, that God is for me.”

In Hebrew, the word translated that is the conjunction ki. A better rendering here might be the English word, because. The name he uses for God in this song is Elohim, which means Creator and Judge of the universe. So, David is saying, “I know my enemies will turn back because the Creator and Judge of the entire universe is for me.” His confidence is grounded in what he knows to be true of God. He knows that God is for him.

Say it to yourself, “God is for me.” What an incredible proclamation of faith this is. God, who created everything; who sits in righteous judgment over all the earth, is for us. What impact could this kind of faith have when our own circumstances seem dire; when loneliness, poverty, and helplessness bring us to moments of desperation. Likewise, Paul, in his letter to the church in Rome, after reminding us that as we are predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ; and, we who are predestined are also called, justified, and glorified. Therefore, “If God (who has done all these things) is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:29-31).

Of course, it’s not a matter of simply saying the words and clicking our heels together. The power is not in the words. The power rests with the person we’re talking about. The words themselves are a proclamation of a truth that has been deeply planted in our soul. This truth is planted in the heart of everyone who belongs to Christ, and it is made sure by the indwelling person of the Holy Spirit. Every promise in God’s Word that He will be our comfort, our guide, our protector, and our sustainer, is secured and fortified by the Spirit of the Living God.  We have absolute victory in Christ. How do we know? God, the Creator and Judge of the universe, is for us.

Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.