Psalm 57

David faced a lot of hardship in his life. This very psalm, for instance, was written in a cave while he was literally hiding for his life. However, David doesn’t sound very worried.

Sure, he mentions his troubles he’s facing: “I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.” (vs 4) Have you ever been standing in the middle of lions? I haven’t, and I sure wouldn’t want to! It would be nothing short of certain death.

That’s David’s point. He is facing certain death, caught in the crosshairs of a maniac king who is trying to defend his throne.

Yet, by the end of the psalm, David says this: “My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.” (vs 7-8) What a bold statement! David is surrounded by “lions,” yet he is willing to boldly proclaim that he will live to see the morning. Actually, more than that. Not only will he see the morning, he will bring it on with his songs of praise.

This is the kind of confidence we can have in the midst of this chaotic world when we have a relationship with God that is built on trust. The more we know Him, the more we will see that He knows what He is doing and that everything He does is right and good. When we embrace that reality, it really doesn’t matter what life brings to us. Even when we’re in the lions’ den, we know that a fabulous morning is right around the corner.

All the forces of evil in this world rage against those who love God, but God inspires boldness. The better we know Him, the easier it is for us to look at death and laugh. Evil will not get the last word in our lives because God is the everlasting Word. And we can stand confidently in Him when the rest of the world is falling apart.