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PSALM 56

STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 56:1-7
 ¹Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me;
 Fighting all day long he oppresses me.
 ²My foes have trampled upon me all day long,
 For they are many who fight proudly against me.
 ³When I am afraid,
 I will put my trust in You.
 ⁴In God, whose word I praise,
 In God I have put my trust;
 I shall not be afraid.
 What can mere man do to me?
 ⁵All day long they distort my words;
 All their thoughts are against me for evil.
 ⁶They attack, they lurk,
 They watch my steps,
 As they have waited to take my life.
 ⁷Because of wickedness, cast them forth,
 In anger put down the peoples, O God!

56:1-7 "Be gracious" This IMPERATIVE (BDB 335, KB 334) begins many Psalms (cf. Ps. 4:1; 6:2; 51:1; 57:1 [twice]; 86:3; 123:3 [twice]) and it occurs in many others (cf. Ps. 9:13; 25:16; 26:11; 27:7; 30:10; 31:9; 41:4,10; 86:16; 119:29,58,132). It is often associated with

1. deliverance from enemies
2. forgiveness of sins

In this Psalm the prayer is because of reason #1. Notice how the psalmist describes his adversaries (Ps. 56:1-2,5-6).

1. trampled upon (or "pant," same consonants, BDB 983 I) him, Ps. 56:2 – BDB 983 II, KB 1375, Qal PERFECT, cf. Ps. 56:3; Ps. 57:3; Ezek. 36:3; Amos 8:4
2. fight proudly against him, Ps. 56:2 – BDB 535, KB 526, Qal PARTICIPLE
3. distort (lit. "vex" him) his words, Ps. 56:5 – BDB 780, KB 864, Piel IMPERFECT
4. their thoughts are evil against him, Ps. 56:5 – no VERB
5. attack (lit. "stir up strife"), Ps. 56:6 – BDB 158, KB 184, Qal IMPERFECT, cf. Ps. 59:3; 140:3
6. lurk (lit. "hide"), Ps. 56:6 – MT has Hiphil IMPERFECT, Qere Qal IMPERFECT of BDB 860, KB 1049
7. watch his steps (lit., "heels"), Ps. 56:6 – BDB 1036, KB 1581, Qal IMPERFECT (i.e., so as to find a time and place to attack), cf. Ps. 71:10
8. have waited to take his life, Ps. 56:6 – BDB 875, KB 1082, Piel PERFECT, cf. Ps. 119:95

56:1 "all day long" Notice that this idiom for continual attack is used in Ps. 56:1, 2, and 5.

The psalmist looks forward to a day (cf. Ps. 56:3) when his enemies will be turned back, Ps. 56:9a. In the Bible "day" can refer to

1. temporal judgment
2. eschatological judgment

SPECIAL TOPIC: THAT DAY

The MT has the Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE of the VERB "to fight" (BDB 535, KB 526). It is SINGULAR but denoting collectively all those who oppose the psalmist.

56:2 "proudly" The MT has the NOUN "height" (BDB 928). It is translated in two ways.

1. the arrogance of the adversaries, NASB, NIV (ADVERB)
2. part of the title for God
   1. "Most High," LXX, NKJV, NRSV, REB
   2. "Lord Almighty," TEV
   3. "O Exalted One," JPSOA

56:3 Psalm 56:3 is a repeated theme; repeated again in Ps. 56:4 and 11.

1. I am afraid – BDB 431, KB 432, Qal IMPERFECT
2. I will put my trust in God – BDB 105, KB 120, Qal IMPERFECT, see note at Ps. 4:5
3. then I shall not be afraid, Ps. 56:4,11, cf. Ps. 112:7-8; 118:6

56:4 "In God, whose word I praise" Notice this is repeated in Ps. 56:10 in a parallel way where Elohim and YHWH are connected.

The "word" (BDB 182) is a parallel to "Your vows" (BDB 623), Ps. 56:12. There are many terms used to characterize YHWH's revelations.

SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD'S REVELATION

▣ "What can mere man do to me" The Hebrew term translates "flesh" (BDB 142, KB 164, cf. Gen. 2:21). This is a rhetorical question that expects a negative answer. This same sentiment is expressed in Ps. 118:6 and quoted in Heb. 13:6. The concept is also seen in relation to spiritual forces in Rom. 8:31,35-39.

SPECIAL TOPIC: FLESH (sarx)

56:7 Because of the vicious and continuing attacks, the psalmist asks God to act in judgment against his adversaries.

1. cast them forth (lit. "for crimes, will they escape," NKJV) – BDB 812, KB 930, Piel IMPERATIVE
   1. the VERB means "deliver," cf. Ps. 17:13; 18:3, so here it must be a question or the translation must add a negative by emendation (NET)
   2. it is also possibly to change "deliverance," BDB 812, פלט, to"weigh out," BDB 814, פלס
2. put down the peoples – BDB 432, KB 434, Hiphil IMPERATIVE, cf. Ps. 55:23. It is surprising that "the peoples," which is usually used of national groups (NEB, REB), is used here. There are several theories.
   1. this is a royal Psalm and refers to other nations (Peshitta)
   2. this is an Israelite/Judean living among foreigners
   3. just a way of referring to his enemies who act like non-covenant peoples

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: PSALM 56:8-13
 ⁸You have taken account of my wanderings;
 Put my tears in Your bottle.
 Are they not in Your book?
 ⁹Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call;
 This I know, that God is for me.
 ¹⁰In God, whose word I praise,
 In the Lord, whose word I praise,
 ¹¹In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid.
 What can man do to me?
 ¹²Your vows are binding upon me, O God;
 I will render thank offerings to You.
 ¹³For You have delivered my soul from death,
 Indeed my feet from stumbling,
 So that I may walk before God
 In the light of the living.

56:8-13 This strophe deals with the psalmist's faith conviction that God was with him and for him (cf. v. 4). One day his adversaries will face the consequences of their actions (Ps. 56:9). We reap what we sow (see full lists of texts at Gal. 6:7-10).

56:8 God knows what the psalmist is going through (cf. Exod. 3:7). He expresses this faith worldview (i.e., based on the promises of Scripture) in

1. the VERB, "taken account" (i.e., God knows) – BDB 707, KB 765, Qal PERFECT
2. the VERB, "put my tears in a bottle" – BDB 962, KB 1321, Qal IMPERATIVE (i.e., prayer request); imagery for remembering the suffering and evil the psalmist experienced at the hands/words of his enemies
3. Your book – the word "book" (BDB 707) is very similar to the VERB "take into account" (BDB 707). "Book" is a biblical idiom of God's memory. This rhetorical question expects a "yes" answer.

SPECIAL TOPIC: SUFFERING

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TWO BOOKS OF GOD

The Hebrew NOUN (BDB 627 I, KB 671) is found only here. It is the same consonants as "move to and from" "wander," "flutter," "show grief" (BDB 626). The usage of "wander" can be seen in Ps. 36:11; 59:11; 2 Kgs. 21:8. There is a sound play in Hebrew between "wander" and "bottle."

The LXX and Peshitta seem to follow a different Hebrew text.

▣ "bottle" The word (BDB 609, KB 657) means an animal skin (sheep) sewed into a container for liquid (cf. Josh. 9:4,13; Jdgs. 4:19; 1 Sam.16:20; Ps. 119:83).

56:9 "will turn back" This VERB (BDB 996, KB 1427, Qal IMPERFECT) is a common VERB and has a wide semantic field. It is often used of "repentance," but here, it denotes the defeat of the psalmist's enemies, in imagery, meaning to turn one's back in battle (i.e., retreat). Their plans (vv. 5-6) have been thwarted.

▣ "when I call" It is possible the "call" is a statement of faith.

1. Ps. 56:9b
2. Ps. 56:3a
3. Ps. 56:4a-b

Whichever it refers to, it denotes an act of volitional faith. There is a theological tension between the sovereignty of God and the freewill of man. Both are necessary for covenant.

SPECIAL TOPIC: ELECTION/PREDESTINATION AND THE NEED FOR A THEOLOGICAL BALANCE

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

▣ "This I know, that God is for me" This is a play on the meanings of the Hebrew word "know" (BDB 393).

SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW

56:12 "vows" This may be another way of referring to God's promises (cf. Ps. 56:10b) or it may refer to promises the psalmist made to God. Once they are fulfilled then 

1. an offering is required (cf. Ps. 56:12b)
2. verbal praise is required

In context it may refer to the psalmist's fear of death by his adversaries and thereby he asked God to save him. In this request he made some kind of a vow. God did save him, now he must fulfill his vow.

56:13 The psalmist mentions several things God has done for him.

1. delivered his soul from death – BDB 664, KB 717, Hiphil PERFECT; this must relate to Ps. 56:6
2. kept his feet from stumbling and, thereby allowing him to walk before God; godly living was described as a clear, level, unobstructed path/road (see note at Ps. 1:1). They "watched is steps" in Ps. 56:6, but now God helps him walk.

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PATH, THE WAY

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. The heart of the Psalm is a repeated refrain, what is it?
2. Explain the idiom of "book." How many "books" does the Bible mention that God keeps?
3. What does "in that day" imply?
4. Explain Ps. 56:10 in your own words.
5. What does it mean to "walk before God"?

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