Confession & Declaration 28

Psalm 56:8 You number and record my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle—are they not in Your book?

It is believed by scholars that this Psalm was written by David when he was fleeing from King Saul. After gathering up the sword of Goliath he flees to the Philistines. But his flight resembled the proverbial jumping from the fire into the frying pan. 1 Samuel 21:10-15 records the events: David arose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath.¹¹ The servants of Achish said to him, Is not this David, the king of the land? Did they not sing one to another of him in their dances: Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?¹² David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish king of Gath.¹³ And he changed his behavior before them, and pretended to be insane in their [Philistine] hands, and scribbled on the gate doors, and drooled on his beard. ¹⁴ Then said Achish to his servants, You see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? ¹⁵ Have I need of madmen, that you bring this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?

Things had gotten so hopeless, and dark that David pretended to be a crazy man in order to keep from being killed by the Philistines. He records his troubles in Psalm 56:1-2, 5-6: Be merciful and gracious to me, O God, for man would trample me or devour me; all the day long the adversary oppresses me. ² They that lie in wait for me would swallow me up or trample me all day long, for they are many who fight against me, O Most High!…. ⁵ All day long they twist my words and trouble my affairs; all their thoughts are against me for evil and my hurt. ⁶ They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they watch my steps, even as they have [expectantly] waited for my life.

Note that David says: all the day long the adversary oppresses me. The book of Revelation records that David’s adversary is not man, but satan himself. What did David do to combat the oppression of his adversary, satan? What did David do with the oppression and the fear of death? he trusted and he praised: Psalm 56:3-4 What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You. ⁴ By [the help of] God I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do to me?

David then proceeds into victory after processing the Truths of Who God is. Psalm 56:9-13 declares his triumphant words: Then shall my enemies turn back in the day that I cry out; this I know, for God is for me. ¹⁰ In God, Whose word I praise, in the Lord, Whose word I praise, ¹¹ In God have I put my trust and confident reliance; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? ¹² Your vows are upon me, O God; I will render praise to You and give You thank offerings. ¹³ For You have delivered my life from death, yes, and my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life and of the living.

Thus David is declaring that because his confidence is in the Lord – not man; because his confidence is in God’s Word, his wanderings recorded – and his tears saved in a bottle – he can rise in victory. Why? Davids recollection of God putting his tears in a bottle is not some sentimental fancy to comfort David while he felt sorry for himself. No not all. He is reminding himself that he belongs to God. That he is precious to God. He is reminding himself that God’s prophetic promise had yet to be fulfilled. He had yet to see the realization of his being crowned king of Israel. He knew, and was persuaded, that though men were plotting to kill him no man could kill God’s Promise. He would rise from it all.

The take away for you is that you are God’s promise. Even your tears are precious to Him. No man can destroy God’s Promise. Why? Because God’s Promised One lives in you. So rise up and praise Him with David. Rise up in spite of your circumstances and praise Him with the angels and saints gone before you. The Promised One Rises within you.

Declaration 28: Holy Father I join my voice, with David in declaring Your Truth – Your Promise. By the Blood of Jesus I am His promise. By the Blood of Jesus the Promised One lives and abides in me. What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You. ⁴ By the help of God I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do to me? … This I know, for God is for me. ¹⁰ In God, Whose word I praise, in the Lord, Whose word I praise, ¹¹ In God have I put my trust and confident reliance; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?…I will render praise to You and give You thanks. ¹³ For You have delivered my life from death, yes, and my feet from falling, that I may walk before You in the light of life and of the living. Thank you Jesus I am alive by the Resurrection Power of Your Spirit! I am alive by the Precious Blood of the Lamb. I am alive because the Author of Life dwells in me. Thank You Jesus for breaking me free from the oppression of my adversary putting him under my feet! Thank You Jesus, satan is under my feet! Hallelujah!

Who’ Your One? Day 25 – Thursday, February 6