“The Silent Dove in Distant Lands.” A Michtam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath. It is probable (though not certain) that The Silent Dove in Distant Lands was the tune to which this psalm was sung; some connect it with the theme, thinking it represents a dove in trouble even as David was in trouble. It seems by this, and many other psalms, that even in times of the greatest trouble and distress David never hung his harp upon the willow-trees, never unstrung it or laid it but that when his dangers and fears were greatest he was still in tune for singing God’s praises. I think that any of us who are a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ has also known times of being outside of God’s will. Not just in one decision or choice that we’ve made, but in an intentional move that we’ve made that would knock us down us for a while. We where able to overcome by the will of God. By staying close to God we can learn to make right choices trusting in His will. In God I Trust. Saying that you are who you hang with is true when you let the devil cling on you.There are choices that we make in this life that are done without a view to what God wants for us, and those choices can happen in us finding ourselves in a pattern of living that God would not want for us.We can turn our attention to Psalm 56 where we will see The Prayer of a Believer Outside of God’s Will. David had found himself to be outside of God’s will. How did he handle that situation and what can we learn as we pray through these situations in our lives as we become aware of them?
(To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.)
It reads in Psalm 56:1-13 ESV: Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. When I am afraid, 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? All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil. They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life. For their crime will they escape? In wrath cast down the peoples, O God! You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know that God is for me. 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? I must perform my vows to you, O God; I will render thank offerings to you. For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.