Psalms Of Trust

Several psalms remind us of the need to put our trust in God and His name. As David points out, the believer who understands that the Lord “will judge the world in righteousness” … because “those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you” (Ps. 9:8, 10).¹ Indeed, as David says elsewhere,

The LORD saves his anointed;
he answers him from his holy heaven
with his saving power of his right hand.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. (Ps. 20:6-7)

Accordingly, in yet another psalm it is reported:

We will wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name. (Ps. 33:20-21)

In the famous alphabetic Psalm 119 we read that the believer says:

May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD,
your salvation according to your promise;

then I will answer the one who taunts me,
for I trust in your word. (Ps. 119:41-42)

May all believers come to realize that it is imperative that he or she put their full trust in God, His name, and His word. In doing so, the believer will not only grow in grace, but spirituality. He will then love the Lord, His word and thus experience more fully God’s love. As David says, “May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you”. (Ps. 33:22)

Yes, full trust in the Lord will enable the faithful believer to pray wholeheartedly, and experience God’s care and deliverance, just as the psalmist’s stated:

To you O LORD I lift up my soul
in you I trust, O my God.

Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.

No one whose hope is in you
will ever be put to shame,

but they will be put to shame
who are treacherous without excuse (Ps. 25:1-3; cf. vv. 8-10).

One of the most interesting psalms of trust is Psalm 56. Here the psalmist builds upon his opening plea for God’s acting on his behalf and his remarks concerning that which those who attack him are saying. He points out that:

When I am afraid,
I will trust in you.

In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
what can mortal man do to me? (Ps. 56:3-4)

The psalmist here declares his ultimate trust in the Lord’s acting to see him through his difficulties. As Van Gemeren suggests, “I [will] ‘trust’ conveys his confidence in the Lord”.² Later in the psalm David builds upon his earlier statement by expressing his confidence and full trust in God saying:

In God, whose word I praise,
in the LORD, whose word I praise –

In God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me? (Ps. 56:10-11).

Indeed, full trust in the Lord takes away fear (cf. Ps. 34:9; 11).

So, it is that even today, those who are truly believers may and should put their trust in the Lord, even in the midst of life’s difficulties. Thus,

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil he doth richly repay;
Not a grief nor a loss, not a frown nor a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.³

As those who believe and are committed to the Lord, may we trust Him to do that which is good. Such is not only a standard in the Christian faith, but is a key to full Christian living:

Trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. (Ps. 37:3)

This is one of the four distinctive traits for proper Christian living expressed in this psalm. Believers should not only trust in the Lord but delight themselves in the Lord (vs. 4) and having done so “He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like a noon day sun” (Ps. 37:6). Such is evidence of a whole-soul Christian experience: intellectually (v.3), emotionally (v.4) and willfully (v.5). When this is true, they may follow David’s further advice, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. (v.7).

From the above discussion we may safely conclude that David properly prayed in a later psalm for God’s guidance and support.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go
for to you I lift up my soul (Ps. 143:8; cf. v. 10).

This David could do despite having some who opposed him strongly (cf. vv. 3-4; 9, 11-12).

David was a man who trusted the Lord.

I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.

I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me. (Ps. 13:5-6; cf. vv. 1-4)

This he could do despite strong feelings at times of despair.

May we all learn from these scriptural examples. When we do so, we may well echo David’s firm expression of absolute trust in the Lord. We may also be reminded of God’s unfailing presence and support. As believers may we be aware of the fact that as united in Christ we have the satisfaction of knowing that because the Holy Spirit indwells us, he or she may whole-heartedly trust in the Lord. May we each enjoy that full assurance that Fanny Crosby expressed in her well-known hymn Blessed Assurance:

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of His spirit, washed in His blood.

…….

Perfect submission – all is at rest, I in my Savior am happy and blessed;
Watching and waiting, looking above, filled with His goodness, lost in His love.⁴

So also H.G. Stafford writes:

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.⁵

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¹ All scripture references are from the NIV.

² Williem A. Van Gemeren, “Psalms”, in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, rev. ed., eds. Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2008), V:458.

³ John H. Sammis, “Trust and Obey”.

⁴ Fanny J. Crosby, “Blessed Assurance”.

⁵ Horatio G. Stafford, “It is Well with My Soul”.