1 [[To the chief Musician H5329 upon Jonathelemrechokim, H3128 Michtam H4387 of David, H1732 when the Philistines H6430 took H270 him in Gath.]] H1661 Be merciful H2603 unto me, O God: H430 for man H582 would swallow me up; H7602 he fighting H3898 daily H3117 oppresseth H3905 me.
2 Mine enemies H8324 would daily H3117 swallow H7602 me up: for they be many H7227 that fight H3898 against me, O thou most High. H4791
3 What time H3117 I am afraid, H3372 I will trust H982 in thee.
4 In God H430 I will praise H1984 his word, H1697 in God H430 I have put my trust; H982 I will not fear H3372 what flesh H1320 can do H6213 unto me.
5 Every day H3117 they wrest H6087 my words: H1697 all their thoughts H4284 are against me for evil. H7451
6 They gather themselves together, H1481 they hide H6845 H6845 themselves, they mark H8104 my steps, H6119 when they wait H6960 for my soul. H5315
7 Shall they escape H6405 by iniquity? H205 in thine anger H639 cast down H3381 the people, H5971 O God. H430
8 Thou tellest H5608 my wanderings: H5112 put H7760 thou my tears H1832 into thy bottle: H4997 are they not in thy book? H5612
9 When H3117 I cry H7121 unto thee, then shall mine enemies H341 turn H7725 back: H268 this I know; H3045 for God H430 is for me.
10 In God H430 will I praise H1984 his word: H1697 in the LORD H3068 will I praise H1984 his word. H1697
11 In God H430 have I put my trust: H982 I will not be afraid H3372 what man H120 can do H6213 unto me.
12 Thy vows H5088 are upon me, O God: H430 I will render H7999 praises H8426 unto thee.
13 For thou hast delivered H5337 my soul H5315 from death: H4194 wilt not thou deliver my feet H7272 from falling, H1762 that I may walk H1980 before H6440 God H430 in the light H216 of the living? H2416
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 56
Commentary on Psalms 56 Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalm 56
It seems by this, and many other psalms, that even in times of the greatest trouble and distress David never hung his harp upon the willow-trees, never unstrung it or laid it by; but that when his dangers and fears were greatest he was still in tune for singing God's praises. He was in imminent peril when he penned this psalm, at least when he meditated it; yet even then his meditation of God was sweet.
How pleasantly may a good Christian, in singing this psalm, rejoice in God, and praise him for what he will do, as well as for what he has done.
To the chief musician upon Jonath-elem-rechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath.
Psa 56:1-7
David, in this psalm, by his faith throws himself into the hands of God, even when he had by his fear and folly thrown himself into the hands of the Philistines; it was when they took him in Gath, whither he fled for fear of Saul, forgetting the quarrel they had with him for killing Goliath; but they soon put him in mid of it, 1 Sa. 21:10, 11. Upon that occasion he changed his behaviour, but with so little ruffle to his temper that then he penned both this psalm and the 34th. This is called Michtam-a golden psalm. So some other psalms are entitled, but this has something peculiar in the title; it is upon Jonath-elem-rechokim, which signifies the silent dove afar off. Some apply this to David himself, who wished for the wings of a dove on which to fly away. He was innocent and inoffensive, mild and patient, as a dove, was at this time driven from his nest, from the sanctuary (Ps. 84:3), was forced to wander afar off, to seek for shelter in distant countries; there he was like the doves of the valleys, mourning and melancholy; but silent, neither murmuring against God nor railing at the instruments of his trouble; herein a type of Christ, who was as a sheep, dumb before the shearers, and a pattern to Christians, who, wherever they are and whatever injuries are done them, ought to be as silent doves. In this former part of the psalm,
Psa 56:8-13
Several things David here comforts himself with in the day of his distress and fear.