Silent Dove Among Those Far Away

"For our God is indeed a consuming fire."

Hebrew 12:29

Psalm 56

Be merciful and gracious to me, O God,

for man would trample me or devour me; all

the long day the adversary oppresses me.

They that lie in wait for me would swallow me up

or trample me all the day long, for they are many who

fight against me, O Most High!

What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in

 and put my trust and reliance in You.

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?

All day long they twist my words and trouble 

my affairs; all their thoughts are against me

 for evil and my hurt.  They gather themselves together

they hide themselves, they watch my steps, even

as they have expectantly waited for my life.

They think to escape with iniquity and shall they?

In Your indignation bring down the peoples, O God.

You number and record my wanderings; put my tears

into Your bottle-are they not in Your book?

Then shall my enemies turn back in the day I cry out;

this I know for God is with me.

In God, Whose word I praise, in the Lord,

Whose word I praise.

In God have I put my trust and confident reliance;

I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?

Your vows are upon me, O God: I will render praise

to You and give You thank offerings.

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.

David and Goliath

Gustave Dore

Psalm 56 was set to the tune of the song,

"Silent Dove Among Those Faraway"

A song of King David of Israel.

This song, or psalm, is a record of

 memorable events when the Philistines

seized David in Gath.