Psalms 56:1

PSALM 56

PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE FROM ENEMIES AND GRATEFUL TRUST IN GOD

Superscription: For the Chief Musician; set to [~Jonath] [~'elem] [~rehokim].

A Psalm of David.

Michtam; when the Philistines took him in Gath.

Set to [~Jonath] [~'elem] [~rehokim]. Dummelow translated this as, "The dove of the distant terebinths," which indicated the song or the melody to which the psalm would be sung."[1] Adam Clarke gave another translation, "To the tune of the dove in the remote woods."[2]

Michtam. "The meaning of this is uncertain; but it may mean "A Golden Psalm of David."[3]

A Psalm of David. The authorship of the psalm is ascribed to David; and, until some valid reason for rejecting this ancient opinion is produced, we shall consider it to be valid. Delitzsch declared that this indication of Davidic authorship "is justified."[4]

When the Philistines took him in Gath. The Scriptures do indeed tell us of David's going to Gath, but there is no definite record of the Philistines actually `capturing him.' To us, this poses no problem whatever, as there are countless things in the life of David which are not related in the Old Testament.

McCaw wrote that, "This refers to David's first sojourn in Gath when he was evidently under some restraint (1 Samuel 21:13; 22:1). Psalms 34 was written after his escape from the Philistines, but this psalm is expressive of his misgivings while actually in the hands of Achish."[5] This psalm reveals the fact that David certainly considered the situation to be very dangerous.

There are many repetitions in the Psalms; and the prayer for deliverance from enemies is particularly a recurring feature, as is also the expression of grateful trust in God.

A person asked this writer, not long ago, why did David have so many enemies? The answer is that as a type of Christ, anything less than the constant enmity of the world would have been incorrect.

Perhaps the greatest error of our generation is the false notion that, `the true reign of Christ' will be a time of universal acceptance of His will among men. Nothing could be further from the facts. The reign of Christ will occur in the midst of his enemies, in spite of them; and their enmity will continue throughout the Dispensation until "the last enemy," which is death, shall be destroyed (1 Corinthians 15:26).

The New Testament characterizes the "kingdom of heaven," which is the reign of Christ now going on (Matthew 28:18-20), as a time of "great tribulations," of constant "persecutions," of violent and implacable hatred, not only of the apostles, but also of "all who live godly in Christ Jesus."

Jesus Christ at this present time, "Has sat down on the right hand of God, henceforth expecting till his enemies be made the footstool of his feet" (Hebrews 10:12-13). It should be noted that the reign of Christ is therefore concurrent with the existence of many enemies.

True to the Great Antitype, David's life was constantly under the attack of bitter and persistent enemies. The only thing needed to incur the wrath and the hatred of the world is for Christians to reject the world's value judgments. Often, the friendship of Christians with the world is simply due to the fact that the Christians have failed to make that rejection properly visible to others.

Rawlinson tells us that:

"This psalm and the following (Psalms 57) are called "twin psalms." Each of them begins with almost the same words; each has a refrain that divides it into two parts. One difference is that this psalm has an epilogue (Psalms 56:12-13), whereas, Psalms 57 does not. Both are written in circumstances of very great distress; and the tone of thought in each of them is similar. Each has a statement of the problem, then a prayer for deliverance, and ends with praise and triumph."[6]

Baigent divided the psalm into two parts, Psalms 56:1-4, and 5-11, with Psalms 56:12-13 as a concluding thanksgiving.[7]

Psalms 56:1-4

"Be merciful unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up:

All the day long he fighting oppresseth me.

Mine enemies would swallow me up all the day long;

For they are many that fight proudly against me.

What time I am afraid,

I will put my trust in thee.

In God (I will praise his word),

In God will I put my trust,

I will not be afraid;

What can flesh do unto me?"

"They are many that fight proudly against me" (Psalms 56:2). See chapter introduction for discussion of the number of David's enemies.

"I am afraid ... I will put my trust in thee" (Psalms 56:3). All of the worldly circumstances that surrounded David were calculated to project fear into his heart; but he thrust all fear aside by trusting in God. The rebellion of his enemies against the counsel of God was only madness. "The poet has God's favor on his side, therefore he will face those pigmies that behave as though they were giants, possessing the assurance of ultimate victory in the invincible might of God."[8] In these clauses, "Faith is a deliberate act in defiance of one's emotional state."[9]

"In God I put my trust, I will not be afraid" (Psalms 56:4). This is a refrain, repeated again and enlarged in Psalms 56:10-11. We find it again in Psalms 118:6, and in the New Testament also (Hebrews 13:6).

"What can flesh do to me?" (Psalms 56:4). This is very similar to the confident word of Paul who wrote, "If God be for us, who can be against us" (Romans 8:31).