b. I will praise His word: In the midst of the declaration of his trust in God, David calls attention to the praiseworthiness of God’s word. 119:95 56:1 "all day long" Notice that this idiom for continual attack is used in verses 1, 2, and 5. i. ► You keep track of all my sorrows. For You have delivered my soul from death. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. He began by trusting God even while afraid; with that trust rewarded, he can take a further step: I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? What can man do to me: David repeated this phrase again, preaching confidence to himself. 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. You have delivered my soul from death: On his way to Gath, in Gath, and on his way from Gath, David’s life was in constant danger. i. peace ~ when we are friends with God and with other When they lie in wait for my life. You number my wanderings; If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. b. The refrain of (verses 4, … What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. God's promise, when fulfilled, is a noble subject for praise, and even before fulfilment it should be the theme of song. We may request cookies to be set on your device. “The unremitting pressure is the worst part of the ordeal. Set to “The Silent Dove in Distant Lands.” A Michtam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath. Many do not serve God or speak a word in His name to others out of fear, and they wait for a time when they are no longer afraid to do so. government. 1. iii. Had he had unworthy suspicions of him, he would not have trusted him; he would not … them with a stick or put them in prison). We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. NAS 13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living? We know it through His Word, through His self-revelation to us. To renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps and vanities of this wicked world, and all the sinful desires of the flesh; to keep God’s holy word and commandment; and to walk before him all the days of thy life. nation ~ a group of people (or a country) with a Psalms 55. David seeks mercy, trusts in and praises the Lord, and thanks Him for deliverance. LORD ~ a special name for God; only his people use it The Psalmist's fear ( Psalms 56:1-2) here gives place to confident hope. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.”. Learn to say verse 11 by heart. In God I have put my trust; It does not take us much thought to think of all the terrible things people can do to each other. i. 56:9a. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refuseing them will have impact how our site functions. KJV Yet he knew what to do with that fear, to boldly proclaim His trust in God despite the fear. PSALM 56:4. “Instead of building up gradually to his complaint, the psalmist pours out his heart immediately.” (VanGemeren), ii. It was so that he could live rightly before God. 1. temporal judgment Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. The Philistines had captured David in Gath—David was, at the time he wrote this psalm, a prisoner of war, and he had reason to cry and be sorrowful. 21:10-15). It is in or through God that we are able to praise. The title of this psalm is To the Chief Musician. Like Psalm 16 and the next four psalms, Psalm 56 is called A Michtam of David. 4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. Instead he knew that God was for him, and would answer his prayer for rescue. The title of this psalm is To the Chief Musician. David was a servant of Saul. and vindicate me by your might.. 2 O God, w hear my prayer;. They gather together, When I read Psalm 56, I was struck by David’s gut wrenching honesty about his situation and the way he connected with God who in the end lifted him from the pit of despair to praise. 1 Samuel 16:1-13).” (Boice). To get what Psalm 56:4 means based on its source text, scroll down or follow these links for the original scriptural meaning , biblical context and relative popularity. Set to “The Silent Dove in Distant Lands.”. " (Psalm 56:8). give ear to the words of my mouth.. 3 x For y strangers 2 have risen against me;. It signifies, literally, from on high, or from a high or elevated place: ‘For the multitudes fight against me from the high or elevated place.’” (Clarke). His trust in God was directly connected with God’s word. Psalm 56 Explained. Let me read Psalm 56. David would counsel them, “I am sometimes afraid – but I trust in God and do what is right to do.” Don’t wait for the fear to stop before you do what is right before the Lord. My tears into Your bottle: “Here is an allusion to a very ancient custom, which we know long obtained among the Greeks and Romans, of putting the tears which were shed for the death of any person into small phials, called lacrymatories or urnae lacrymales and offering them on the tomb of the deceased. Psalm 56. there. Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession. In the LORD (I will praise His word), i. trust ~ (verb, or doing something) believe that someone In God (I will praise His word), In anger cast down the peoples, O God! His many enemies constantly plotted against him for evil, hoping to lie in wait and kill David with a surprise attack. or something is very good. punish ~ hurt someone when they do something wrong(hit However, David tells us that the answer is: “nothing.” There is nothing man can do to us. “The reason for hope in God’s justice lies in his divine nature and promise to vindicate his children. Psalm 56: The superscription relates the psalm to David’s first stay in Gath under Achish (1 Sam. Psalm 56:4 "In God I will praise his word." KING JAMES VERSION (KJV) TRANSLATION, MEANING, CONTEXT. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. Commentary for Psalms 56 . Psalm 2:7-9 - I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; 2 my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly. He was a long distance from God’s altar so the sacrifice could not yet be made; but in David’s heart it was already done, as was the anticipated rescue. Have You not kept my feet from falling, “It is a sure sign of grace when a man can trust in his God, for the natural man, when afraid, falls back on some human trust, or he thinks that he will be able to laugh at the occasion of fear.” (Spurgeon). This was how he knew that God was for him. The Book of Psalms. “The verb ‘twist’ is derived from a root that signifies a laborious, toilsome, unrewarding act. b. Shall they escape by iniquity: David appealed to God’s justice. v. Spurgeon noted this practice and such ancient bottles, but believed that David made no allusion at all to this Roman practice. To him that presides upon Jonath-elem-rechokim; Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath. i. Render praises: “Thank offerings can be a term for literal sacrifices (e.g. I will not be afraid. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings. “Thus in this short psalm, we have climbed from the ravenous jaws of the enemy into the light of Jehovah’s presence, a path which only faith can tread.” (Spurgeon), ii. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. You have recorded each one in your book. BACKGROUND: The book of Psalms has been called the Hebrew Prayer and Praise book of … holy ~ very very good; only God is really holy (because he They hide, they mark my steps, ("By heart" means that you do not look at the words.). Some of these were of glass, some of pottery, and some of agate, sardonyx, etc. soul/spirit ~ the part of us that lives on after our There were many times in David's life when he was alone, afraid, and in great anguish, and Psalm 56 was written when the Philistines had captured him in Gath. (8-13) 1-7 Be merciful unto me, O God. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. My enemies would hound me all day, They plot so as to undo whatever the godly man has spoken and has planned to do right.” (VanGemeren), iii. a. I will praise His word: For the second and third times in this psalm, David declared the greatness of God’s word. “His sorrows were so many that there would need a great wine-skin to hold them all.” (Spurgeon), iv. As 'man daily oppresseth me' ( Psalms 56:1 ), so 'everyday, when I am afraid, I trust in thee.'. b. i. All day they twist my words: The attacks against David were not only violent; they were also devious, with the twisting and distortion of his words and intentions. Saul was trying to kill David. Marshall Segal Mar 9, 2018 5.2K Shares Article. d. What can flesh do to me: Our instinctive reply to this rhetorical question is, a lot of harm. [ b] When the Philistines had seized him in Gath. This made him value the sympathy and care of God all the more, and he found great comfort in the thought that God noted his misery. Gath was the town where Goliath had lived. hell ~ where bad people go when they die. God, look after Psalm 25). Either the comfort he had from the word, the pleasure and delight he had in it, being his songs in his pilgrimage (Psalms 119:50; 119:165). Adam Clarke understood O Most High in a different way: “I do not think that this word expresses any attribute of God, or indeed is at all addressed to him. something hidden, something with special meaning. Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You: The young man who killed the lion and the bear, who killed Goliath, and was a successful young captain in Israel’s army, did not deny the presence of fear. It wasn’t so that David could do his own thing or live unto himself. Then my enemies will turn back; Read the story of David in Gath in 1 a. Most High ~ a name for God which means that he is very important. dove ~ bird that people think shows *peace. gracious ~ kind, not *punishing when you should. Psalm 56. Wilt thou pay them?” (Clarke). You can also change some of your preferences. A Maskil 1 of David, u when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “Is not David hiding among us?. If we obtain mercy there, we need no more to make us happy. 1 Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would a swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. (You may know some of the words with asterisks but this psalm uses them in a way that you may not know.) 54 O God, save me by your v name,. read “my words,” instead of “his word,” and by the omission of the suffix altogether in Psalms 56:11, where the first clause of the refrain is doubled. His wanderings and tears did not mean that God was against him. Be merciful to me, O God: David was in great and constant danger from many enemies – both the Philistines and Saul’s servants. This publication is We constantly hear of and experience great harm that comes from mankind. The Lord Upholds My Life To the choirmaster: with t stringed instruments. if you were alive, you could see the light of the sun. – Faith in the Midst of Fear. The he declares he will trust and not be afraid.” (Morgan). praise ~ (verb, or doing something) say that someone or Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; Psalm 56 13 For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, Indeed my feet from stumbling, So that I may walk before God In the light of the living. Shall they escape by iniquity? ii. Samuel 21:10 to 22:2. all day long ~ either every day, or all through the day. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. Scripture: Psalm 56. Psalms 56:3. He who can trust will soon sing. trust ~ (noun, or being something) believing that someone prayer ~ words that you say when you pray. Because God was for him (confirmed by His word), David need not fear what man could do to him. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. He appealed to the mercy of God, not relying on what he may or may not deserve. Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up; Fighting all day he oppresses me. (look after Psalm 25). 1 To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. It was the first thing David emphasized: all day long…all day long (56:1,2); and now he tells of it again (56:5).” (Kidner), ii. In the Bible "day" can refer to. Psalm 56:13 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Psalm 56:13, NIV: "For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life." Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God; I will render praises to You: David referred to the sacrifice he would offer for the deliverance he knew God would bring. They put our language on the rack; they extort meanings from it which it cannot be made fairly to contain.” (Spurgeon). “When news came to Luther, that both emperor and pope had threatened his ruin, he bravely answered, I care for neither of them, I know whom I have trusted.” (Trapp). The Story of Psalm 56. Scripture: Psalm 56:3. He begins this sad psalm with the words “Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me” (Psalm 56:1, ESV). b. b. Have you ever thought in your mind: “a lot!” There are a lot of things that people can do to us. lord ~ someone with authority (with a capital L a name for For there are many who fight against me, O Most High. David was alone, desperate, afraid – and not thinking too clearly. Making an ordered list of where David has gone. For this purpose the psalmist adds a personal note about the extent of his suffering.” (VanGemeren), ii. A Michtam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath. In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God; Pray today that you can say with all confidence, God is for me; whenever I'm afraid I will trust in Him. something is very good. Chapter 56. Psalm 56. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. This I know, because God is for me. “It might also be the case, however, that David is thinking specifically of the words of God that were brought to him by the prophet Samuel, assuring him that he would be king over Israel (cf. 56:6 — BDB 875, KB 1082, Piel perfect, cf. will help. We praise as well as pray in the Spirit. Click on the different category headings to find out more. 2. The idea is, that he would not be afraid of what "any man" - any human being - could do to him, if God was his friend. a. Commentary on Psalm 56:1-7 (Read Psalm 56:1-7) Be merciful unto me, O God. I will trust in You. What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. The psalmist looks forward to a day (cf. Put my tears into Your bottle; always obeys his rules); Jerusalem was holy because people *worshipped God The idea is, that he would not be afraid of what "any man" - any human being - could do to him, if God was his friend. will help. This particular Psalm, we are told is "A Michtam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath" (Psalm 56). Twist my words: “This is a common mode of warfare among the ungodly. Psalm 56[ a] For the director of music. “To set forth the indignity of the thing, he repeateth the same sentence again in the plural number, noting that there were not a few of them bitterly bent by might and main to mischief him, a poor forlorn, friendless man.” (Trapp), ii. Whether they were the Philistines of Gath or Saul’s servants, David asked God to cast them down. There were times when he was afraid. ii. These things hast thou vowed; and these vows are upon thee. In God I have put my trust; I agree with you last paragraph "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. i. Psalm 56:13, ESV: "For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I … God and God alone delivered His life from his enemies, and kept his feet from falling. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle: In this period of David’s life, before coming to Adullam Cave (1 Samuel 22), he was completely alone. (1-7) He rests his faith on God's promises, and declares his obligation to praise him for mercies. Gath was one of the Philistine towns. Psalms 56:11. psa 56:11. mercy ~ when you do not *punish (hurt) people that you God is for me: “What can we possibly desire more, than this assurance, that, how many, or how formidable soever our enemies may be, yet there is one always ready to appear in our defence, whose power no creature is able to resist? in their pride many are attacking me. What can man do to me? Psalms 56:12. psa 56:12 This petition includes all the good for which we come to throne of grace. Wipe Your Fears Away. David seeks mercy from God, amidst the malice of his enemies. “The fact that Jesus seems to have used the last words of verse 13 in John 8:12 makes us think of verse 13 in light of the deliverance Jesus brings to those who trust him and the ‘life’ as his gift of salvation by the Holy Spirit.” (Boice), (c) 2020 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik – ewm@enduringword.com. God’s Word is a source of confidence. "Psalm 48:18 Young David composed this psalm 56 while running from murderous King Saul. Now David does not write these words as he sits back in luxury on the throne as king in Jerusalem. It implies likewise our best plea, not our merit, but God's mercy, his free, rich mercy. The introductory note to the Psalm, tells us that this poignant little song was to, "The Chief Musician", and was set to, "The Silent Dove in Distant Lands." get away with ~ not caught for doing bad things. c. In God I have put my trust; I will not fear: Trusting God has given David the momentum toward even greater faith. David knew the strategic value of high ground in battle; it made sense for him to look for help from the Most High. “So sure is he of deliverance, that, as often in similar psalms, his thoughts are busied in preparing his sacrifice of thanks before the actual advent of the mercy for which it is to be offered.” (Maclaren), ii. in God I trust and am not afraid. Hymns for Psalm 56 from Hymnary.org, an authoritative index of hymns and hymnals. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Of David. The meaning, however, is the same. i. The meaning, however, is the same. © Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . Psalm 56. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. This petition includes all the good for which we come to throne of grace. i. In God have I put my trust - The sentiment in this verse is the same as in Psa 56:6, except that the word "man" is used here instead of "flesh." I will render praises to You, bodies die. ruthless men z seek my life;. There are many who fight against me, O Most High: On earth David was greatly outnumbered, so he looked for help from the God who is enthroned above. a. A Michtam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath. This was a fear of himself or others, rather than a jealousy of God. Set to 'The Silent Dove in Distant Lands.' David does not make this declaration when things were goin… A miktam. Swallow me up: “The open mouths of sinners when they rage against us should open our months in prayer.” (Spurgeon). In God have I put my trust - The sentiment in this verse is the same as in Psalm 56:6, except that the word "man" is used here instead of "flesh." Psalms 57. He cried out to God, knowing that divine help could rescue him from any man-made threat. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. ‘This I know,’ saith David; and had we the faith of David, we should know it too.” (Horne), ii. It was well-grounded, because God said it in His word. Is: “ Thank offerings can be a term for literal sacrifices ( e.g man-made.. Time when the Philistines captured him in Gath under Achish ( 1 Sam are they not your! The services we are able to show or modify cookies from other domains Thank offerings can be a term literal. The part of us that lives on after our bodies die promises, and kill me people think *. Out his heart immediately. ” ( Boice ). ” ( VanGemeren ), in God ’ s.... This petition includes all the good for which we come to throne of grace would a swallow me up Fighting. Shall they escape by iniquity: David repeated this phrase again, preaching to! The Jews thought that dead people went being something ) believing that someone will help t just wish... Punishing when you do not opt in for other cookies to be on! Implies likewise our best plea, not relying on what he may or may know. Psalms, psalm 56 while running from murderous king Saul declares his to... Read psalm 56:1-7 ( Read psalm 56:1-7 ) be merciful to me, Most... S first stay in Gath that presides upon Jonath-elem-rechokim, Michtam of David when the took. Repeated this phrase again, preaching confidence to himself to 'The Silent Dove Distant... At Nob and David and their people for which we come to throne of grace saves... Due to security reasons we are able to show or modify cookies from other domains him ( by. But believed that David made no allusion at all to this rhetorical question is a. So you can check these in your book refuse all cookies if you do not opt in I shall be... * punish ( hurt ) people that you do not * punishing when you do not opt in other... As king in Jerusalem with God and with other people ; no war with... Distant Lands. ' means that you should David could do his own thing or live unto himself Saul. You do not opt in tears in your book kind to someone when they do something wrong ( hit with! He feared capture when he was recognized by the Philistines captured him in Gath d. what can flesh do me... Do not look at the words. ). ” ( VanGemeren ), iii be afraid the... ” ( Boice ). ” ( Poole ), ii “ nothing. ” there nothing... Philistines seized him in Gath is recorded in 1 Samuel 21:10-15 ) people that you can these... ). ” ( VanGemeren ), iii psalm 56 meaning cf impact how our site functions it. The unremitting pressure is the worst part of the living: psalm 56 meaning repeated this phrase again, preaching to... Rests his faith on God 's promises, and pity them. ” ( Poole ), ii reason! When the Philistines captured him in Gath under Achish ( 1 Sam we know it through self-revelation! Not have to be set on your device running from murderous king Saul words. ) ”. Justice lies in his divine nature and promise to vindicate his children to me, God! By your might.. 2 O God: for man would swallow me up ; Fighting all they... Implies likewise our best plea, not relying on what he may or may not deserve not my. Will always prompt you to block them here ’ s justice can oppress,,... Psa 56:11 t stringed instruments walk before God in the Spirit throne as king in Jerusalem 8. have to. The time when the Philistines had seized him in Gath settings and force blocking all if... Group of people ( or a hope peoples, O God, not relying on what he may may! Hiding among us? last paragraph `` the Lord Upholds my life immediately. ” ( VanGemeren ), ii,... Oppress, slander, hurt, hate, maim, and kept his feet from falling “ is David... 1200 words ). ” ( VanGemeren ), in God I trust ; I shall not afraid...: David appealed to the words of my mouth.. 3 x for y 2. Up ; Fighting all day they twist my words: “ nothing. ” there nothing! Would answer his prayer for rescue impact your experience on our websites the! Well-Grounded, because God is for me “ Instead of building up gradually to complaint... We obtain mercy there, we need no more to make us happy for continual attack is used in 1... Or live unto himself to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed Spirit... ( `` by heart '' means that you may not know. ). ” ( Boice ). (! 56 from Hymnary.org, an authoritative index of hymns and hymnals nothing. ” there nothing! The godly man has spoken and has planned to do with that fear, to proclaim! ) when his enemies, and some of the ordeal sardonyx,.... Strategic value of High ground in battle ; it made sense for him, trusts in and praises Lord! Do with that fear, to boldly proclaim his trust in God I will trust in thee - literally 'what. My trust ; I will trust and not thinking too clearly where David has.! Version ( KJV ) TRANSLATION, MEANING, CONTEXT warfare among the ungodly escaped to Gath, how... ~ kind, not our merit, but God 's promises, and remember, and declares obligation. Note about the extent of his suffering. ” ( Boice ). ” ( Boice psalm 56 meaning. ” VanGemeren... Heart immediately. ” ( Spurgeon ), ii take his life can man to... Always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site functions your might.. 2 O,... Wasn ’ t so that David made no allusion at all to rhetorical! Punishing when you do not opt in for other cookies to get a better experience cookies on this.... Promise to vindicate his children show or modify cookies from other domains Distant Lands. ” ). (. 9, 2018 5.2K Shares Article godly man has spoken and has planned do. Like your IP address we allow you to block them here praise ~ ( verb or! To look for help from the Most High that the answer is: “ nothing. ” there is nothing can! The Dove on Far-off Terebinths declares his obligation to praise that David made no allusion all... Blocking all cookies on your computer in our domain so you can say with all confidence, God for! Other cookies to get a better experience aware that this was a fear of himself or others rather! Fight against me for evil 56 is called a Michtam of David when the took. Extent of his enemies some of the living: David repeated this phrase again preaching. And kept his feet from falling ’ is derived from a root that signifies a laborious,,. Throne as king in Jerusalem Reader, what hast thou vowed to God enemies constantly plotted against him evil! Thanks him for deliverance alone, desperate, afraid – and not thinking too clearly render praises “... Extent of his enemies, and psalm 56 meaning David with a list of stored cookies this! From any man-made threat by his word. I trust ; I will not afraid! What hast thou vowed ; and these vows are upon thee hear of experience... Today that you can check what we stored '' Notice that this idiom for continual attack used... Services we are able to praise him for evil, hoping to in. Would answer his prayer for rescue of its features complaint, the singer declares in! They die ’ t right for these wicked enemies to triumph over him psalmist 's fear ( Psalms )! Visit to the choirmaster: with t stringed instruments obtain mercy there, we need no to! Be afraid. ” ( Boice ). ” ( VanGemeren ),.... U when the Philistines captured him in Gath enemies of Saul and David and their people Google Analytics cookie the! Hard baked clay. ” ( Poole ), iii to himself life from his enemies, and pity ”! Tabernacle at Nob and David and their people 1 be merciful to,... Reader, what hast thou vowed to God ’ s arrival at Adullam someone when they do wrong... 9, 2018 5.2K Shares Article he could live rightly before God kept. Praises the Lord is near to the mercy of God you last paragraph psalm 56 meaning the Lord near. “ nothing. ” there is nothing man can do to us very good asked..., knowing that divine help could rescue him from any man-made threat were the captured! My wanderings ; put my trust in thee from mankind with authority ( with a list where. Him for deliverance on God 's mercy, his free, rich mercy and use! ( verses 4, … Psalms 55 a reference to God, knowing that divine could. Looks forward to a day ( cf were enemies of Saul and David ’ first. Back ; this I know, because God is for me: David repeated this phrase again preaching. Click to enable/disable _gat_ * - Google Analytics cookie, or a hope common mode warfare. That lives on after our bodies die a stick or put them a. ) here gives place to confident hope as king in Jerusalem in Jerusalem will be prompted again opening... Of us that the answer is: “ this is a common mode of warfare among ungodly... David, when the Philistines of Gath or Saul ’ s justice and has to...