Psalm 56 — Got Fear? Trust Christ
56 Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
5 Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
7 Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
10 In God will I praise his word: in the Lord will I praise his word.
11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
12 Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.
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?
David was on the run from King Saul, who had a death wish for his anointed son-in-law. After visiting the high priest at Nob (1 Sam. 21:1–9), David took Goliath’s sword from the tabernacle; and ironically, he traveled to hide out in Gath of the Philistines, Goliath’s hometown on the coastal plain. David’s cover was soon blown, and he could feel the pressure from two sides (1 Sam. 21:10–15). John Calvin comments, “When he was brought to King Achish, David was like a sheep between two packs of wolves, hated by the Philistines and persecuted by his own people.”
David authored Psalm 56, with Israel as his audience, sometime around 1015 B.C. His subject was the lesson he was learning while on the run, “Trust God when you are fearing man.” The setting is found in the title, as it is in Psalms 57, 59, and 60 in this set of mikhtam (an unknown Hebrew term). The structure is three-fold: I. (vv. 1–4) A plea for mercy in the midst of oppressive lament; II. (vv. 5–11) A description of evil oppressors and God’s protective care; III. (vv. 12–13) A vow to praise God for His salvation.
David feared for his life from King Saul, and from the Philistines of Gath, where he was attempting to hide out (Title). For the choir director is common and suggests liturgical use. According to johath elem rehokim is translated, “The silent dove of those who are far off.” This clause links Psalm 56 with Psalm 55:6, where David wanted to fly away into the wilderness like a dove. A mikhtam of David is unknown, but it is either a literary or musical term. When the Philistines seized him in Gath gives us the historical setting (1 Sam. 21:10–15).
David prayed to YHWH for grace because he was being pursued by enemies (v. 1). Be gracious to me, O God is a plea for mercy in the midst of lamentable trouble. God is Elohim, Almighty God, used eight times in Psalm 56, reminds us this is part of the Elohistic Psalter (Ps. 42–83). For man has trampled upon me suggests David’s opponents are “panting” in hot pursuit of him. King Saul began the chase to capture and kill David. Fighting all day long offers a perspective on the incessant nature of oppression. He oppresses me identifies David’s various enemies as a corporate one (“he”). Oppression is an environment created by the misuse of dominion. Man was given dominion by God, but he now oppresses his fellow man under the dominion of sin. Christians are subject to direct and indirect influences of the devil. We must pray our way out of oppressive situations. Prayer was David’s preferred weapon of choice in the battle against him.
David’s opponents were in a better position (high ground) and incessant in their attacks (v. 2). My foes have trampled upon me all day long is a restatement from the lament in v. 1. For they are many who fight proudly against me reiterates the volume of enemies (c/f 55:18) and their heightened position. Height can suggest a pride of position, which is preferred here.
David’s fear of man drove him to trust in God (v. 3). When I am afraid exposes David’s humanity and vulnerability. The natural state of fallen man is fear, especially fear of death. Fear still visits the believer who is stressed by circumstances. Perfect love casts out fear. I will put my trust in Thee is the antidote for fear. God is perfect love (1 Jn 4:8). Turning from fear to God, in faith, is done through prayer. Prayer demonstrates faith. We must pray without ceasing.
David honored God’s Word with praise, and he repeated his status of fear and trust (v. 4). Here is the key verse for Psalm 56, and it is expanded in vv. 10–11. In God whose word I praise is unique in the Psalms (Goldingay). God’s Word is the Scriptures and God incarnate (John 1:1). His Word, Jesus Christ, is worthy of our praise. In God I have put my trust is repeated (vv. 3, 11). God is trustworthy. Faith is trust in Christ. I shall not be afraid is a statement of overcoming faith. Faith in God overcomes fear of man. What can mere man do to me? marks the close of section one. The question here is answered in vv. 5–6. Unregenerate man does much harm to the church, but God’s power is set in contrast. The apostle Paul employs this in Romans 8:31, where he brings 56:4 together with Psalm 118:6–9.
David’s foes weaved evil against him and misrepresented him (v. 5). All day long they distort my words is the first of six evil strategies listed. Slander and misrepresentation is directed against believers, especially in matters of doctrine and debate (ie. abortion, homosexuality, divorce and remarriage, etc.). All their thoughts are against me for evil shows the intention of the heart. What is in the heart will eventually emerge from the mouth. The outworking of evil is second on David’s list. We must remember that in the world we will have trouble. Do not be surprised when these types of trials visit you.
David recounted the tactics of his adversaries (v. 6). Third, they attack. Their words may be smooth, but war is in their hearts (55:21). They lurk means the evil is premeditated (4th). They watch my steps suggests a demonic stakeout (5th). David’s reputation was ruined by the collusion of the House of Saul and those who bought into their party line. Reports of David’s activity allowed for distorted speculations of his intents and actions. Imagine the people in Jerusalem learning about David living among the Philistines! Surely, he was worthy of death. Saul must be right to hunt him. As they have waited to take my life is the last strategy (6th). Our enemies, principalities and powers in heavenly places, do all of these things listed here (and more!) in an attempt to destroy our lives and ministries. Paul instructed the Ephesians to equip themselves for the battle and to pray (Eph 6:10–20).
David imprecated to God against his counterparts and requested justice (v. 7). Because of wickedness provides a reason for God to act in just judgment against David’s enemies. Cast them forth is an imprecation, a prayer request for God to do what He says in His Word. In anger put down the peoples, O God is stated with passion. Despite the most famous sermon title in America (“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”), most people, even many Christians, refuse to acknowledge the anger of God. He has His reasons for being slow to anger, but slow does not erase the reality of His anger. Charles H. Spurgeon helps us with our understanding of imprecatory prayer when he writes, “When people seek to cast us down, it is but natural and not at all unlawful to pray that they may be disabled from the accomplishment of their infamous designs. What God often does, we may safely ask him to do.”
David reflected on YHWH’s care and concern for His anointed servant (v. 8). Thou hast taken account of my wanderings reminds us that God is always present. Wandering is our way of life because the earth and this life is not our destination. Wandering in the wilderness is especially rich biblical imagery (ie. Moses on the run from Pharaoh; Israel in the Exodus; David from Saul; Elijah from Jezebel; Jesus in His temptations; and Christians throughout history). Put my tears in Thy bottle demonstrates God’s loving care for His suffering servants. Lost in the English translation are the two Hebrew words for wandering (node) and bottle (n’od). In Hebrew they sound similar. The point is that God carefully accounts for our troubled steps, Are they not in Thy book. God’s book, elsewhere, has the names of His people and their stories (Mal 3:16; Rev. 20:12).
David was assured that His prayer would impact his opponents because of God’s favor (v. 9). Then my enemies will turn back in the day that I call reveals the counterstrategy to evil. Prayer for deliverance is resisting the devil. He will flee when the greater power of God is requested. Who calls on YHWH for help but the ones whose names are written in His book and who suffer for His namesake in the world? Is this your story? This I know, that God is for me is a statement of confidence. When God reveals His salvation to the elect, they speak with confidence about the love and care of Jesus Christ. Do you know whom you have believed? Are you certain He is able and willing to keep that which you have committed to Him against the day of evil?
David praised God’s Word (v. 10). In God, whose word I praise is repeated from v. 4. Psalm 19 and 119 exalt the Word of God. The statement of praising the Word of God, in contrast with God Himself, is unique here in the Psalms. Christians know Jesus Christ to be the Word of God incarnate. Worshiping someone’s words is peculiar, but certainly when the Word of God takes on flesh, He is worthy of our praise! In the Lord, whose word I praise shows parallelism with one significant feature changed. The name YHWH is hidden behind the English translation “Lord.” The God written of by David is YHWH, the God of Jacob. His Word is true.
David proclaimed His faith in YHWH and repeated his inquiry about oppressive humanity (v. 11). In God I have put my trust is repeated for the third time (vv. 3, 4). I shall not be afraid is also repeated. The reader is reminded that repetition in the Bible is to show emphasis. What can man do to me? is the closure to section two (as it was for section one). The inquiry appears different from v. 4. In the first instance, the reader has not yet been introduced to the oppressions of man, nor to the power of God to combat evil. Here, it comes almost as a boast, “If God is for us, who can be against us!”
David offered his obedience and worship to YHWH (v. 12). Thy vows are binding upon me, O God is a self-reminder of David’s promise to obey God’s Law/Word. God fulfills His promise to us, we should do likewise for Him. Pay your vows! I will render thank offerings to Thee is a statement of both literal sacrifices and heart sacrifices. Thank offerings (Lev 7:11–18; Dt 12:5–7) are communal. Sacrifices were eaten by the worshiper in the Temple, hence, in the presence of God. Giving thanks, without ceasing, is the Christian’s incessant testimony of grateful faith. A life of obedient faith is an act of worship offered to God because of His mercy and grace toward us.
David rejoiced in YHWH’s provision of abundant and eternal life (v. 13). For Thou hast delivered my soul from death is a clear statement of salvation. Death is the end game for sin. Christians have been conjoined with Christ in His death on the cross. Here is the end of death for us. There is no fear in death, anymore. Indeed my feet from stumbling also teaches us about God’s sustaining power in our Christian walk. He does not allow the righteous to be shaken (55:22), nor do they stumble irrevocably. So that I may walk before God is the ambition of the Christian. A walk of faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit, is in the light of the living. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world, he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness but shall have the light of life (Jn 8:12).” Light is removing the darkness in our lives. Darkness assaults the Light in futility. Our walk is victorious. He always leads us in triumph! Dawn has come; but we must press on with our high calling, until the fullness of the light of day has arrived and darkness is no more (Rev 21–22).
In sum, we have heard the plea for mercy from the man of God oppressed by evil enemies. Their zeal to oppress God’s man has numerous strategies; but God’s protective care has been sought. Confidence in God and His Word bears powerful testimony that turns one’s fear of man into praise for God. Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. The things of the world, all your fears, will fade in the light of His mercy and grace. Got fear? Trust Christ!
David Norczyk
Lakewood, California
July 13, 2021
