So much of the New Testament quotes or references in some manner the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). God's story through history is a story that reveals His nature and character, His plans and glory. There is great blessing in tracing words, phrases and ideas through the history of Scripture. David uses an expression in Psalm 56:9 that we see explored in greater fullness in Romans 8:31.
Psalm 56 is a Psalm David wrote about his time in captivity in Gath - the hometown of Goliath, the giant that David killed. Why was David in Gath? He was fleeing King Saul and the armies of Israel. It says something about how bad David's circumstances were that he was forced to either surrender to Saul or give himself up to the Philistine fortress that was the home of Goliath and his family. While there, he was placed under house arrest, and the Philistine leaders wanted to kill him.
This is the David that had already been anointed as king by the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 16). David knew that God had made incredible promises to him and had a plan for his life, but David's circumstances were screaming at him - "you are a dead man. There is no escape. You need to give up and give in, because your situation is hopeless."
To one degree or another, we will all face circumstances that shout at us to deny our faith, give up and give in. There is no escape. There is so much in the world that is designed to destroy our faith. There are so many reasons for hopelessness to become the dominant theme of our lives.
In Psalm 56, David cries out for God's grace and deliverance. He says that he is being attacked by his enemies all day and all night. He is afraid. In his fear, he makes a bold statement: "I put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust. I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?"
David goes on to describe the many ways that all kinds of people are against him. David clings to God's character, recognizing that God counts David's tossing back and forth in bed in anguish and counts all of his tears. That is the personal love and attention that David is convinced that Almighty God has demonstrated toward him.
It is because of David's understanding of the character of God - that David can count on God to keep His promises and to meet David's needs, and that David can make his declaration to God in Psalm 56:9-11. First, he says that his enemies will turn back as David calls out to God - he is convinced that
God will keep His promises. Second, he declares: "This I know, that God is for me." Third, David asks, in light of the fact that God is for me, "what can man do to me?"
In other words, David's Philistine enemies are against him. Saul and the armies of Israel are against him. He is all alone, but he knows that he will prevail because, "God is for me." That is a statement of faith under circumstances where there is no reason to believe that God is really for him.
We all face circumstances that test our faith. The question facing all of us is whether we really believe that God is for us. Are His promises to us really true? Can we trust what God says?
I can see Paul, a student of the Hebrew Scriptures, reflecting on David's words and understanding the context in which those words were written. Paul is gripped by the statement, "this I know, that God is for me," and he begins reflecting on that statement in the light of Jesus Christ. Given the promises and victory that we have "in Christ" (8:1, 39), what does it really mean that "God is for us" as believers in Christ?
In Romans 8:31, Paul says: "If God is for us, who can be (prevail) against us?" Romans 8:26-39 is one of the great declarations of how God the Spirit, God the Father and God the Son are all for those who are "in Christ." Romans 8:26 says that, "the Spirit intercedes for us." Romans 8:31 says that "God (the Father) is for us." Romans 8:34 says that "Christ Jesus ... is interceding for us." All three members of the one triune God are for us all the time.
If that is true, then what or who can prevail against us? There are all kind of people and forces and spiritual powers arrayed against us, but they are all created and all are subject to the Creator. That Creator is our Redeemer, who has adopted us into His family as sons (and daughters) and gives us the inheritance of sons as fellow heirs with Jesus of all of God's promises. (See Romans 8:14-17.)
But, what about "tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?" (8:35.) What about the fact that we are treated like sheep that are about to be slaughtered? (8:36.) What about "death ... life ... angels (spiritual authorities) ... rulers (human and spiritual powers) ... things present (your circumstances) ... things to come (future threats) ... other kinds of powers (spiritual and physical) ... anything else in all creation (everything except God Himself)"?
Doesn't the above list give us Christ-followers good reasons to be afraid? Paul's answer: "No, in all these things (in all of the bad circumstances that this fallen world and demonic powers can throw at you), we are more than conquerors (hypernikaō) through Him who loved us." (8:37.) Nothing "in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God (for us) in Christ Jesus our Lord." (8:39.)
Like David, when there a great reasons to be afraid, Paul calls us to confident trust in the nature and character of our God and in His promises to us. The phrase, "more than conquerors," means overwhelmingly or hyper victorious. Our victorious position in Christ means that we can live in joyful, confident victory despite our circumstances. The God of all creation is on our side, and He wholeheartedly loves us and is working in us for our ultimate good and His ultimate glory.
This reminds us of 2 Kings 6. Elisha has succeeded Elijah as prophet. Elisha used to tell the king of Israel about the attack plans of the king of Syria. Every time Syria attacked, Israel was ready. The king of Syria learned this was because Elisha knew the words that he spoke to his commanders, because God would reveal them to Elisha. The Syrian king decided that the answer was to capture or kill Elisha. Thus, the armies of Syria came and surround Elisha's town.
Elisha's servant looked out and saw the armies surrounding the town, but Elisha was unconcerned. Elisha prayed that the Lord would open the eyes of the servant, and then the servant saw the much larger angelic armies of God arrayed around the Syrian army. Elisha told his servant, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." (2 Kings 6:16.) Elisha saw life and his circumstances through eyes of faith. He knew that God was for Him.
In the same way, 1 John 4:4 tells us, "Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." The word, "overcome," is the same word (nikaō) used in Romans 8:37. In other words, we are victorious because our God is greater and more powerful than anything that would oppose us. We can trust Him to superintend our lives with love, grace and faithfulness. He has us covered. The only question is whether we have the faith to believe that.
As we reflect on the nature and character of our God, as revealed in His Word, we develop the confidence to trust Him in all circumstances. Therefore, we can say with David, in Psalm 56:10-11:
In God, whose word I praise,
in the LORD, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
Every time that you see the Nike swoosh, remember, in Christ you are hyper-victorious over everything that tries to separate you from God's love and from His call on your life. May you have the faith and courage to live out the victory that Christ has earned for you.
