Bible Commentaries
Psalms 56

Verse 1

56:1 [To the chief Musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, Michtam of David, {a} when the Philistines took him in Gath.] Be merciful unto me, O God: for {b} man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.

(a) Being chased by the fury of his enemies into a strange country, he was a dumb dove not seeking vengeance.

(b) He shows that if God will help him, it must be now or never for all the world is against him and ready to devour him.

Verse 4

56:4 In God I will praise his {c} word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

(c) He stays his conscience on God’s promise though he sees no present help.

Verse 5

56:5 Every day they wrest my {d} words: all their thoughts [are] against me for evil.

(d) All my counsels have evil success, and turn to my own sorrow.

Verse 6

56:6 {e} They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.

(e) As all the world against one man, and cannot be satisfied unless they have my life.

Verse 7

56:7 Shall {f} they escape by iniquity? in [thine] anger cast down the people, O God.

(f) They not only think to escape punishment, but the more wicked they are, the more impudent they grow.

Verse 8

56:8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my {g} tears into thy bottle: [are they] not in thy book?

(g) If God stores the tears of his saints, much more will he remember their blood, to avenge it: and though tyrants burn the bones, yet they cannot blot the tears and blood out of God’s register.

Verse 12

56:12 {h} Thy vows [are] upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.

(h) Having received that which I required, I am bound to pay my vows of thanksgiving as I promised.

Verse 13

56:13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: [wilt] not [thou deliver] my feet from falling, that I may {i} walk before God in the {k} light of the living?

(i) As mindful of his great mercies, and giving thanks for the same.

(k) That is, in the life and light of the sun.