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I am constantly hounded by those who slander me, and many are boldly attacking me (v. 2, NLT).
Psalm 56 is the slander Psalm—when others are saying untruths and stretching our words for harm.
King David says . . .
They are always twisting what I say; they spend their days plotting to harm me (v. 5).
David was called by God as King of Israel, and his enemies were challenging his anointing with deceitful and subtle lies.
Have you ever walked into a room where people stopped talking, friends didn’t seem the same, others no longer associated with you, and many believed rumors without discussing the situation with you?
All of us will experience days of slander. Let’s follow David’s example in our response . . .
But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid? What can mere mortals do to me? (vv. 3-4)
Never respond with revenge, as it’s better to be silent and go about our business. A wizened pastor once told me, “Always remember the Tare Principle. If you separate the tares from the wheat in your anger, you also destroy the good in your attempt to save your reputation.”
Another pastor said, “Hey, we are all sinners. Gossip and slander always have a hint of truth; that’s why others believe it. Make sure that we understand our faults before defending against accusations.”
The greatest sting of slander is the feeling of helplessness. People are telling lies, and there isn’t much that we can do. But listen closely to David . . .
You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book (v. 8).
Our tears in His bottle. What a great image of God’s care and love for us. Our seasons of testing will come to an end. King David knew this . . .
My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side! I praise God for what he has promised (vv. 9-10a).
You have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light (v. 13b).
Whenever I read a Psalm that deals with relationship difficulties, I know that I need to receive grace and then extend it to others.
Our tears in His bottle—a Scriptural truth worth remembering in our dark moments.