Psalm 56:1-13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 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 Sam. 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 Ps. 34:1-22. This is... read more

Matthew Henry

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 56:1

Be merciful unto me, O God ,.... For David could expect no mercy at the hands of men, among whom he was, whose tender mercies were cruel; he being at Gath, the city of Goliath, whom he had slain, and whose sword he had now with him; and among his brethren and friends, who he might justly fear would revenge his death upon him: wherefore he betakes himself to God, and pleads not any merit or righteousness of his own, but implores the grace and mercy of God; and he might expect to find grace... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 56:2

Mine enemies would daily swallow me up ,.... For not one man only, but many, were his enemies; who observed and watched him, and were eagerly desirous of his ruin. The believer has many enemies, sin, Satan, and the world, seeking to devour and destroy him, though they cannot; for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High ; he appeals to God, who dwells on high, and sees all things, for the truth of this, that he had many enemies both at Gath and in Israel; as well as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 56:3

What time I am afraid ,.... It was a time of fear with him now; he was afraid of Achish king of Gath, 1 Samuel 21:12 ; so believers have their times of fear; about their interest in the love, and grace, and covenant of God; about their sins and corruptions, and the prevalence of them, fearing they shall perish by them; and about their enemies, who are many, lively, and strong; I will trust in thee ; trust and confidence in the Lord is the best antidote against fears; who is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 56:4

In God I will praise his word ,.... Or praise him for his words for the whole Scripture that was then in being; for those testimonies which were David's counsellors in times of difficulty and distress; and particularly for some word of promise made unto him, he was persuaded would be fulfilled, and in which he gloried and made his boast of, and on which his faith and hope were built; and this he did, and determined to do, in the strength of the Lord, and by the assistance of his grace; in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 56:5

Every day they wrest my words ,.... Form, fashion, and shape them at their pleasure; construe them, and put what sense upon them they think fit. The word F21 יעצבו "fingunt mea verba", Cocceius, Gusset. p. 628. "They painfully form and frame my words", Ainsworth. is used of the formation of the human body, in Job 10:8 ; They put his words upon the rack, and made them speak what he never intended; as some men wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction, 2 Peter 3:16 ; and as the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 56:6

They gather themselves together ,.... And meet in some one place, to contrive ways and means to do hurt, and then assemble together again to put them in execution; as did the Jews with respect to Christ, Matthew 26:3 . Aben Ezra supposes a various reading without any reason; and that, instead of יגורו which Jarchi renders "they lodge", and the Septuagint, and the versions following that, "they sojourn", it should be read יגודו , "they assemble in troops": because they were many: but... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 56:7

Shall they escape by iniquity ?.... Shall such iniquity as this, or persons guilty of it, go unpunished, or escape righteous judgment, and the vengeance of God? No; and much less shall they escape by means of their iniquity; by their wicked subtlety, or by any evil arts and methods made use of, by making a covenant with death, and an agreement with hell; or escape because of their iniquity; or be delivered because of the abominations done by them, as they flatter themselves, Jeremiah 7:10 ... 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

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