Psalm 56:8 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 56:8-13

Several things David here comforts himself with in the day of his distress and fear. I. That God took particular notice of all his grievances and all his griefs, Ps. 56:8. 1. Of all the inconveniences of his state: Thou tellest my wanderings, my flittings, so the old translation. David was now but a young (under thirty) and yet he had had many removes, from his father's house to the court, thence to the camp, and now driven out to sojourn where he could find a place, but not allowed to rest... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 56:8

Thou tellest my wanderings ,.... Not his sins; though these are aberrations or wanderings from the ways of God's commandments; yet these are not told by the Lord: he takes no account of them; the number of them is not kept by him; they are blotted out, cast behind his back, and into the depths of the sea; though sometimes his people think they are told and numbered by him, Job 14:16 ; but David's moves and flights from place to place are meant, through Saul's pursuit of him, as a partridge... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 56:8

Thou tellest my wanderings - Thou seest how often I am obliged to shift the place of my retreat. I am hunted every where; but thou numberest all my hiding-places, and seest how often I am in danger of losing my life. Put thou my tears into thy 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 urns lacrymales and offering... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 56:8

Verse 8 8.Thou hast taken account of my wanderings The words run in the form of an abrupt prayer. Having begun by requesting God to consider his tears, suddenly, as if he had obtained what he asked, he declares that they were written in God’s book. It is possible, indeed, to understand the interrogation as a prayer; but he would seem rather to insinuate by this form of expression, that he stood in no need of multiplying words, and that God had already anticipated his desire. It is necessary,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 56:1-13

The present psalm has a very complex heading, or "title." First, it is addressed, like most of the other psalms of this book, "to the chief musician," or "precentor." Then it is said to be "On the silent dove of far off regions." Thirdly, it is called "Michtam of David," which some explain as "a golden psalm composed by David." And fourthly, the occasion of its composition is declared to have been "the seizure of David by the Philistines in Gath." David's authorship may readily be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 56:1-13

Fear and deliverance. Taking this psalm as David's, we may use it to illustrate two great truths. I. " THE FEAR OF MAN BRINGETH A SNARE ." ( Proverbs 29:25 .) The best of men are but men at the best. David was a man of splendid courage and generosity; but there were times when he grievously erred ( 1 Samuel 21:10-15 ). It was said by Dr. Arnold, "The fear of God makes no man do anything mean or dishonourable, but the fear of man does lead to all sorts of weakness and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 56:1-13

The struggle and victory of faith. The contents of this psalm may be summed up as the struggle and the victory of faith. I. THE STRUGGLE OF FAITH . He is in great fear and danger on account of the plots and wickedness of his enemies. They fight against him with the most dangerous weapons they can command. He does not seek to defend himself with counter plots such as they employed. What are his weapons? The one mighty weapon of trust in God. 1 . In the merciful... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 56:4-11

The expression and the result of faith. "In God I will praise his word," etc. This is not a vain repetition or a mere poetic burden. The meaning is enlarged and strengthened. In Psalms 56:4 that Divine name is used which speaks of the Almighty Creator, "God." In Psalms 56:10 this is repeated, but that personal name is added which speaks of God's covenant and faithfulness, "in the Lord" (equivalent to "Jehovah"). Again, in Psalms 56:4 the psalmist speaks of man in his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 56:8

Thou tellest my wanderings ; i.e. thou, O God, takest account of my wretched wandering life (1 Samuel 21-30), and notest each occasion when I am forced to move from one city, or cave, or wilderness to another. Put thou my tears into thy bottle. Take also note of my tears—let them not pass unheeded. Rather, gather them drop by drop, and store them, as costly wine is stored, in a flask. The thought, thus dressed in a metaphor, was, no doubt (as Professor Cheyne observes), "Store them up in... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 56:8

Thou tellest my wanderings - Thou dost “number” or “recount” them; that is, in thy own mind. Thou dost keep an account of them; thou dost notice me as I am driven from one place to another to find safety. “My wanderings,” to Gath, 1 Samuel 21:10; to the cave of Adullam, 1 Samuel 22:1; to Mizpeh, in Moab, 1 Samuel 22:3; to the forest of Hareth, 1 Samuel 22:5; to Keilah, 1 Samuel 23:5; to the wilderness of Ziph, 1 Samuel 23:14; to the wilderness of Maon, 1 Samuel 23:25; to En-gedi, 1 Samuel... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 56:8-13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 56:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 56:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 56:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 56:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 56:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 56:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 56:4-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 56:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 56:8

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