Psalm 56:8-13

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 56:9

When I cry unto thee ,.... In prayer; then shall mine enemies turn back ; great is the strength of prayer; the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous avails much against their enemies: when Moses lifted up his hands, Israel prevailed: the cases of Asa, Jehoshaphat, and Hezekiah, prove it; this David was assured of, and knew it to be true by experience, his prayer being often the prayer of faith in this respect; this I know: for God is for me ; he knew that when he prayed his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 56:10

In God will I praise his word ,.... These words are repeated from Psalm 56:4 ; and for the greater certainty of the thing, and to show his fixed resolution to do it, and his strong affection for the Lord and his word, they are doubled; in the Lord will I praise his word : in the former clause the word "Elohim" is made use of, which, the Jews say, denotes the property of justice, and in the latter Jehovah, which with them is the property of mercy; and accordingly the Targum... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 56:11

In God have I put my trust ,.... See Gill on Psalm 56:4 ; I will not be afraid what man can do unto me ; the same with flesh in Psalm 56:4 , and is opposed to God, in whom he trusted; and it suggests that he was not, and would not, be afraid of the greatest of men, as well as of the meanest; See Gill on Psalm 56:4 ; Arama distinguishes between "flesh" and "man"; the former, he says, means the Philistines, and the latter Saul and his army. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 56:12

Thy vows are upon me, O God ,.... Which he had made to him in the time of his distress and trouble, and which he looked upon himself under obligation to perform; they were debts upon him he ought to pay off; they were with him; they were fresh in his mind and memory; he had not forgot them, which is often the case when trouble is over; and he found his heart inclined to make them good; I will render praises unto thee ; which explains what he meant by his vows; namely, sacrifices of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 56:13

For thou hast delivered my soul from death ,.... From imminent danger of death, when in the hands of the Philistines; not that the soul can die; that is immortal; but he means his person, on which account he determines to render praise to God: moreover, this may include the deliverance of his soul from a moral or spiritual death, in which he was by nature, being conceived in sin, and shapen in iniquity; from which he was delivered by regenerating grace, when he was quickened, who before was... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 56:9

When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back - As soon as they know that I call upon thee, then, knowing that thou wilt hear and save, my enemies will immediately take flight. The cry of faith and prayer to God is more dreadful to our spiritual foes than the war-whoop of the Indian is to his surprised brother savages. This I know - I have often had experience of the Divine interposition; and I know it will be so now, for God is with me. He who has God With him need not fear... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 56:10

, Psalm 56:11 ; See on Psalm 56:4 ; (note), where the same words occur. read more

Group of Brands