Psalms 56:1-13 - Exposition

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 accepted, for the psalm is, as Ewald says, "one of the most beautiful in the Psalter." And the occasion is not to be lightly set aside; since, although no seizure of David by the Philistines of Gath is mentioned in 1 Samuel, such an event is quite conceivable; while no compiler or editor of a late date would have ventured to interpolate such a fact into the accepted history of David. The "silent dove" is, no doubt, David himself, who had wished for "the wings of a dove" ( Psalms 55:6 ), and was compelled to be silent while he was in captivity.