Psalms 56:13

_FOR THOU HAST DELIVERED MY SOUL FROM DEATH: WILT NOT THOU DELIVER MY FEET FROM FALLING, THAT I MAY WALK BEFORE GOD IN THE LIGHT OF THE LIVING?_ For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling - through the assault of mine enemies. The interrogation strongly confirms the entreaty (cf. Psalms 56:8, end; also. Genesis 13:9). THAT I MAY WALK BEFORE GOD IN THE LIGHT OF THE LIVING? - i:e., among the living (Job 33:30; in Ps. 28:13 , "in the land of the living;" 116:9). "Before God;" i:e., in a way pleasing to God, and under His gracious guidance and care (Genesis 17:1;...

13._For thou hast delivered my soul from death _This confirms the truth of the remark which I have already made, that he considered his life as received from the hands of God, his destruction having been inevitable but for the miraculous preservation which he had experienced. To remove all doubt upon that subject, he speaks of having been preserved, not simply from the treachery, the malice, or the violence of his enemies, but from death itself. And the other form of expression which he employs conveys the same meaning, when he adds, that God had kept him back with his hand when he was on the eve of rushing headlong into destruction. Some translate מדחי, _middechi, from falling; _but the word denotes here a violent impulse. Contemplating the greatness of his danger, he considers his escape as nothing less than miraculous. It is our duty, when rescued from any peril, to retain in our reco...

8-13 The heavy and continued trials through which many of the Lord's people have passed, should teach us to be silent and patient under lighter crosses. Yet we are often tempted to repine and despond under small sorrows. For this we should check ourselves. David comforts himself, in his distress and fear, that God noticed all his grievances and all his griefs. God has a bottle and a book for his people's tears, both the tears for their sins, and those for their afflictions. He observes them with tender concern. Every true believer may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and then I will not fear what man shall do unto me; for man has no power but what is given him from above. Thy vows are upon me, O Lord; not as a burden, but as that by which I am known to be thy servant; as a bridle that restrains me from what would be hurtful, and directs me in the way of my duty. And vows of thankfulne...

Verse Psalms 56:13. _THOU HAST DELIVERED MY SOUL FROM DEATH_] My _life_ from the _grave_, and my _soul_ from _endless perdition_. _MY FEET FROM FALLING_] Thou hast preserved me from taking any false way, and keepest me steady in my godly course; and so supportest me that I may continue to _walk before thee in the light_ _of the living_, ever avoiding that which is evil, and moving towards that which is good; letting my light shine before men, that they may see my good works, and glorify my Father which is in heaven. _To walk before God_ is to please him; the _light of the_ _living_ signifies the whole course of human life, with all its _comforts_ and _advantages_. ANALYSIS OF THE FIFTY-SIXTH PSALM David, in banishment among the Philistines, and bein

FOR THOU HAST DELIVERED MY SOUL FROM DEATH - That is, my “life.” Thou hast kept “me” from death. He was surrounded by enemies. He was pursued by them from place to place. He had been, however, graciously delivered from these dangers, and had been kept alive. Now he gratefully remembers this mercy, and confidently appeals to God to interpose still further, and keep him from stumbling. WILT NOT THOU DELIVER MY FEET FROM FALLING - This might be rendered, “Hast thou not delivered;” thus carrying forward the thought just before expressed. So the Septuagint, the Vulgate, and Luther and DeWette render it. The Hebrew, however, will admit of the translation in our common version, and such a petition would be an appropriate close of the psalm. Thus understood, it would be the recognition of dependence on God; the expression of gratitude for his former mercies; the utterance of a desire to honor hi...

EXPOSITION THIS and the following have been called "twin psalms." They begin with the same words, are nearly of the same length, and have each a refrain which divides them into two portions. Formally, the chief difference between the two is that Psalms 56:1. has an epilogue, or appendix (Psalms 56:12, Psalms 56:13), after the second refrain, to which there is nothing correspondent in Psalms 57:1. Both psalms were written under circumstances of great distress, and the tone of thought in them is very similar. Each begins with complaint, and earnest prayer for deliverance, while each ends with praise and triu

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 dead in trespasses and sins; and so delivered, as that this death should no more come upon him; the grace of God in him being a well of living water, springing up unto eternal life: and it may also be understood of deliverance from eternal death, by Christ, who has redeemed his people from the curse of the law, and delivered them from wrath to come; so that they shall never be hurt of the second death;...

To the chief Musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, Michtam (a golden Psalm) of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath. Psalms 56:1. _Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up: he fighting daily oppresseth me. Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High._ David was in such peril from man that he cried to God to come to our rescue. Man was merciless to him, so he prayed, «Be merciful unto me, O God.» His enemies were many and mighty, so he appealed to the One who was almighty; who could destroy them, or put them all to flight. Psalms 56:3. _What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee._ He is a happy man who can trust in God when he is afraid, but he is still happier who can say, «I will tru

Psalms 56 The Faithfulness of God, the Comfort of His People _ 1. Trust and Comfort (Psalms 56:1)_ 2. Praise for anticipated deliverance (Psalms 56:10) These five Psalms which are grouped together are Michtam Psalms. This one was written by David when the Philistines took him at Gath. The inscription Jonathelem-rechokim has been rendered by the Septuagint translators as “upon the people driven afar from the holy place,” the literal rendering is, “The dove of silence in far off places.” On account of the great tribulation, the abomination in Jerusalem, seen in the previous Psalm, the godly have left the city and here we have the expressions of their trust in the faithfulness of their God. Whatever th

LVI. A PRAYER AGAINST STRONG, NUMEROUS, AND CRAFTY FOES. Psalms 56:2. For enemies read they that lie in wait for me (_mg.),_ PROUDLY: read bitterly. Psalms 56:4. Will praise his word, _i.e._ the fulfilment of His promise. The fulfilment comes, of course, through God. The verse recurs in Psalms 56:10 f., which is probably its original place since it cannot be a refrain. It has been anticipated here by a mistake of the scribe. Psalms 56:6_ b_, _c_, PSALMS 56:7_ a_. Read, with slight change in text,