Psalms 56:1-57:11 Comments by Stephen Ricker
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When I am Afraid
Comments for Study 31

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Listen to Psalm 56.

Listen to Psalm 57.

Memory Verse: 56:3
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Outline

A MAP OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF ISRAEL
A MAP OF DAVID'S ESCAPE FROM SAUL AND BATTLE AT GILBOA
OLD TESTAMENT BOOKS TIMELINE
A LIST OF ISRAEL'S KINGS AND PROPHETS
A TIMELINE OF ISRAEL'S HISTORY

I. In God I Trust (56:1-13)

Cave of Adullam

* A wood engraving (top) is by Lane-Poole, Stanley dated 1880.
The wood-cut engraving is titled "The Traditional Cave of Adullam, at Khureitun. The above is the largest chamber of this labyrinthine grotto".

Cave of Adullam Picture

* The picture (below) of the interior of the Cave of Adullam was taken by Philip Bates of the Sunset Church of Christ. https://sunsetchurchofchrist.org/2019/09/15/the-cave-of-adullam/.

>1. What is the circumstances to David writing this psalm? (title, 1 Samuel 21:10-22:2, 27:1-7; 1 Chronicles 18:1) What was his state? (1-2) What did he do?

* Psalm 56:1-2 "Be merciful to me, O God, for men hotly pursue me; all day long they press their attack. My slanderers pursue me all day long; many are attacking me in their pride."

* The title is, "For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Silent Dove in Distant Lands." A poem by David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath."

* 1 Samuel 21:10-22:2 "That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. But the servants of Achish said to him, "Isn't this David, the king of the land? Isn't he the one they sing about in their dances: "'Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands'?" David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath. So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard. Achish said to his servants, "Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me? Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?"
David left Gath and escaped to the Cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him."

* The psalm was written by David when the Philistines had seized him in Gath. Although the time and related passage (chapter and verses were added centuries later) are not listed in the title, it can be assumed to be between when David fleed King Saul and eventually became king of Judah and later all of Israel.

The passage documenting David's initial fleeing King Saul in 1 Samuel 21:10-22:2 is the most probable because that is when he was most vulnerable. Also, later when men had begun following David, he found sanctuary with Achish, the king of Gath, and perhaps became a vassal of the Philistines (1 Samuel 27:1-7). Eventually when he was king David defeated the Philistines and made Gath an Israelite town (1 Chronicles 18:1)

David's life had suddenly changed for the worse. He was alone and captured. Men from Saul were hotly pursuing him-all day, every day. He had no place to lay his head and no safety to sleep very long. He was hungry, cold, hot, and dirty. Pride and envy fueled his enemies. His friends deserted him. His family was not safe with him.

David sought the mercy of God. He appealed to God's character of care for the needs of his children. As the Lord said through the prophet Jeremiah, "Return, faithless Israel. I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful. I will not be angry forever." (Jeremiah 3:12)

Listen to the above comments on Psalm 56:1-2.

>When David was afraid, what did he decide and state? (3) What is the cause of fear? What is there to be afraid of?

* Psalm 56:3-4 "When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?"

* "afraid" -The original Hebrew is "yare" defined as "fear"

* "word I praise" -Repeated in verse 10. See notes there.

* Verses 3 and 4 are repeated in 10 and 11 with a minor change in the last part.

* "What can mortal man do to me" -Amazing confidence in his deliverance. Not everyone has this confidence. David could have it because God said he would be the next king of Israel, a promise that he knew God would keep. So men could not harm him.

* David trusted in God when he was afraid. Fear is a strong base emotion. David's fear was not vague; it had tangible facts that awakened the feeling. Saul had tried to pin him to the wall with a spear more than once (1 Samuel 18:11, 19:10). Now King Saul sent out groups of men throughout Israel to find him. When afraid David cried out to God and trusted him.

Some people have fears that are more imaginary than real. For example, the fear of a dark night is based on the unknown. I may hear unknown noises and assume the worst. Fear grows with imagination.

Some have "what if" fears. For example, believing that if they leave their house something terrible will happen to them. They make assumptions based on nothing tangible and so stay in their house.

No matter if fear is based on facts or assumptions and imagination, fear can be overcome. Do I trust Jesus enough to face my fear and say, "No more! You will not have power over me anymore for my God is all-powerful." As the Lord God told Joshua who was about to go into a mighty country with the small Israeli army, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9) Four times the Lord said that on that occasion. Repeat and believe.

Listen to the above comments on Psalm 56:3-4.

>2. What were his enemies doing? (5-6) Who else experienced this? Is this gossip only? How is is different and similar?

* Psalm 56:5-6 "All day long they twist my words; they are always plotting to harm me. They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps, eager to take my life."

* "All day long" -This was no small one time occurrence.

* "twist my words" -With intent to dirty his name.

* "eager to take my life" -They have an evil goal.

* David was not the only person who experienced what he wrote in these verses. Jesus, the apostles, and the prophets were also the victims of people twisting their words all day long, sinister plots, conspiracy, and blood hunger. David calls upon the Lord for redress, something he has done before.

Is gossip included in the twisting of words? Have I been the victim of gossip and the perpetrator of gossip? "A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much." (Proverbs 20:19) "Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down. As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts." (Proverbs 26:20-22)

Psalm 57:4

* The image titled, "Psalm 57:4" is in a Bible simply titled "Bible. English. Selections. 1796". Each page has illustrations to replace major topical items in the passage. In this case, lions, spears, arrows, and a sword illustrate the dangers the psalmist faces in Psalm 57.
A self-description is "A new hieroglyphical Bible for the amusement & instruction of children : being a selection of the most useful lessons, and most interesting narratives, (scriptural arranged) from Genesis to the Revelations : embellished with familiar figures & striking emblems elegantly engraved : to the whole is added a sketch of the life of our Blessed Saviour, the holy Apostles, &c. : recommended by the Revd. Rowland Hill ..."
Psalm 57:4 is cited.
Courtesy of the Digital Image Archive, Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University: http://www.pitts.emory.edu. It is now in public domain.

>3. What does David do instead of seeking revenge? (7) Why does he bring up "the nations"? What does him mentioning his tears tell us about his continence?

* Psalm 56:7-9 "On no account let them escape; in your anger, O God, bring down the nations. Record my lament; list my tears on your scroll-- are they not in your record? 9 Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me."

* David prays for God to involve the principles of his law and bring justice. King Saul controlled the human courts. But God also has a court and standard of justice.

* "lament" -to express sorrow and grief.

* "my enemies will turn back" -Absolute confidence is God's justice.

* A good monarch in David's time would have a scribe write a note on a scroll or wineskin to remind him of someone he must reward, help, or punish. It was a royal sticky note reminder in ancient times. David asks the Lord God to record his lament, misery, and wanderings, and allow his tears to wet the scroll in the Lord Jesus' court. David was perhaps writing this psalm as tears let go of his cheek and moistened the scroll he was writing on.

God does notice when we cry. More than recording them on a sticky note to remember later, my tears are written on his heart.

"I know your tears. I know your hardships. I know your oppressors. They are written in my heart. I experience them with you. Are we not one? Am I now in you? In pain, we are one. You are suffering one with me. As you are buried with me, as you carry your cross and die to yourself with me, you will also rise with me. I will wipe away your tears. You shall sorrow no more." (Exodus 33:17; Psalm 69:19; Jeremiah 29:11, 33:3; Romans 6:3-14)

Listen to the above comments on Psalm 56:7-9.

>4. What does David mean by the Word of God? (10-11) Why is he bringing it up in this psalm? What does the Bible have to say about the Word of God? What do you say?

* Psalm 56:10-11 "In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise-- in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

* "whose word I praise" -David is speaking about the Word of God spoken through the prophet Samuel when he was anointed to be the next king of Israel. During David's time the written Word of God consisted of the first five books of the Bible written through Moses. The prophet Samuel probably penned the books of Judges and 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel later in his life. He probably also may have been the one who started Kings and Chronicles, but that is not clear and most definitely would not been started at this time.

* "word" -The original Hebrew word is "dabar" used 1,439 times in the Old Testament.

* "praise" -The original Hebrew word is "halal" where the word "hallelujah" comes from.

* When someone in the Bible says "Word of God" what did they mean? When someone in a congregation says "Word of God" what do they mean? What is God's Word for God? What is God's Word for mankind? What do I think and imagine is God's Word? David praises the Word of God.

The Bible has much to say about the word of God, and the church as a whole has a statement of belief concerning it. We know that the Word of God is written with letters and punctuation, spoken by people through the Spirit, written on our hearts, and most importantly we know and believe that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-2, 14) Jesus is the Word of God become flesh.

Listen to the above comments on Psalm 56:10-11.

>5. What vow might David talking about in verse 12? Why does he remind himself of it? What does that tell us about the importance of keeping a vow? What does it mean to "walk before God in the light of life"?

* Psalm 56:12-13 "I am under vows to you, O God; I will present my thank offerings to you. For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life."

* "vow" -David had most likely vowed that if God delivered him he would present tank offerings.

* "delivered me from death" -David believed if God did not intervene he would die.

* "my feet from stumbling" -Sinning.

* David is so sure the Lord God will not only hear him but also grant what he is asking. So now, he considers himself in debt to pay his vow to the Lord God regarding what he would do once he is granted his request. Do I owe the Lord Jesus a debt for delivering me from death and my feet from stumbling?

Jesus gave his life freely so I could be pardoned and gain eternal life through him and in him. He said, "Freely you have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:8) He also said, "I have set you an example that you should do as I have done to you." (John 13:15) As Jesus told the woman who was caught in the act of adultery and forgiven by him, "Go now and leave your life of sin" (John 8:11)

Listen to the above comments on Psalm 56:12-13.

II. Ravenous Beasts (57:1-6)

David Showing Saul that He had Spared His Life

* A wood engraving by Gustave Dore (1832-1883) to the right depicting David showing Saul that he had spared his life. Dore's drawings were in Bibles that are now in public domain. This one was scanned in by creationism.org.

>6. What does the title indicate is the occasion when David wrote this psalm? Why was David asking for mercy? What does it mean "my soul takes refuse"?

* Psalm 57:1-3 "Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who fulfills [his purpose] for me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; Selah God sends his love and his faithfulness."

* The title, also known as an ascription is, "For the director of music (to the tune of) "Do Not Destroy." Of David. A miktam. When he had fled from Saul into the cave."

* The title of Psalm 142 states, "A miskil of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer.

* Verses 7-11 are repeated in Psalm 108:1-5.

* "God Most High" -"El" in the original Hebrew, the base word for the Most High God in several languages in Canaan including the chief Canaanite deity. See Genesis 14:19 for Abraham's used of "El" when dealing with Melchizedek.

* "who fulfills [his purpose] for me" -David is recalling the anointing of oil he received from the prophet Samuel, declaring that he will be the next king of Israel, after Saul.

* The title, also known as an ascription, states that David wrote this psalm when he had fled from King Saul into the cave (1 Samuel 24). King Saul had convinced himself and others that David wanted to "...cut off his descendants or wipe out his name from his father's family" (1 Samuel 24:21), so he pursued David to kill him.

David and his small band of men fled from Saul when he heard Saul was headed his way with three thousand soldiers. David hid deep in a cave in an area that is still known to have many caves and a major oasis (the west side of the Dead Sea). King Saul happened to go into the cave to relieve himself. David could have killed him. Indeed, his men tried to convince him to do that very thing. David did not want to even hurt God's anointed king let alone kill him. (1 Samuel 24:6) David spared King Saul's life.

Instead of heading to his men who said, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.'" (1 Samuel 24:4) David wrote this prayer psalm.

Using the allegory of night (4, "I lie down") and day (8, "I will awaken the dawn") David cried out to the Lord God Most High to have mercy on him. Fitting for being deep in a dark cave. David speaks of how the God Most High, "sends from heaven and saves him and rebukes King Saul (3).

When my life is threatened I must do four things. First, do not do what is wrong. Second, pray to God. Third, have faith while I wait for his deliverance. Fourth, praise him for delivering me.

Listen to the above comments on Psalm 57:01-03.

>7. Where did lions hide in the day time so they could rest? (4) How did this inspire David considering where he was located? How did his position in the cave relate to his life predicament? (6)

* Psalm 57:4-6 "I am in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts-- men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. They spread a net for my feet-- I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path-- but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah"

* "the midst of lions" -Lions hide in the darkness of caves during the day, away from men, so they could rest from hunting prey all night.

* "let your glory be over all the earth" -by coming to his rescue.

* "bowed down in distress" -The back of the cave must have had a low ceiling. He could not stand up straight. Similar to many burial chambers in the ancient middle east.

* Verse 4 uses poetry to describe the enemy. They are not wimps. They are like strong and fast lions. They are like extremely hungry beasts chasing their prey. They are a serious threat.

Verse 6 poetically describes the enemies' plot. David and his small band of refugees were hunkered down in a low cave. With so many men in a confined area, it was hot, humid, and smelly. David was trapped in a small deep cave that was more like a pit. Saul went into the pit.

The verse between is a contrast. David praises God. "Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. Though hiding in a cave David knows and confesses that God is everywhere. He sings hallelujah.

On the night he was betrayed Jesus ate a last meal with his disciples. The Passover was full of praise, prayer, and teaching. A solemn occasion before suffering that Jesus knew was coming. Often the best times to praise God in in the darkest whole or before the persecution.

Listen to the above comments on Psalm 57:04-06.

III. I Will Praise You (57:7-11)

David with Harp on Knees

* The image titled, "David" is in a book by Luther, Martin (1483-1546) titled "Deutsche Auszlegu[n]g des sieben vn[d] sechtzigste[n] Psalme[n]. : Vo[n] dem Ostertag. Hymelfart vnd Pfingsten. / D. Martinus L."
This beautiful engraving of David kneeling before God while he plays a harp has been attributed to the Cranach circle. The Circle of Lucas Cranach was a group of artists associated with the German artist Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553).
Courtesy of the Digital Image Archive, Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University: http://www.pitts.emory.edu. It is now in public domain.

>8. What did David say to God? (7) What does this say about his faith in God? What did he decide to do? (8) Did this make sense?

* Psalm 57:7-8 "My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn."

* "my heart is steadfast" and "Awake" -Repeating twice or more in the Bible marks a point as very important and factual.

* "steadfast" -Feels secure.

* "Awake, harp and lyre!" -David personified these musical instruments.

* "O God" -"Elohim" in the original Hebrew here as well as verses 1, 3, 5 and 11.

* Praising God after praying when the soul and life circumstances are still dark pits is common in the Psalter. Here, the praise is accompanied by common musical instruments in David's day, the harp and lyre. Miracles happen when danger and destruction loom at every corner and yet I decide to praise God in song.

A few times when my life was at its lowest I did as David and the Spirit of God gave me peace. No reasonable explanation other than the Spirit lifted me can explain what I experienced. David also experienced this. When Jesus taught, "Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7)," one way that I have found this to be true is to praise him in truth and spirit where there is no logical reason to do so. Open my heart and sing praise to the king and he will enter the saddest of hearts.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (Matthew 5:3-4) I will awaken the dawn. The Son will shine in.

Listen to the above comments on Psalm 57:07-08.

>9. As usual in the Psalter this psalm ends in praise. Where did David say he would praise God? Was this possible for him to do at that time? When was it possible? What was the character trait that would be the subject of his praise? (10)

* Psalm 57:9-11 "I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. 10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth."

* "Lord" -"Adonay", also spelled "Adonai" (these are transliterations) in the original Hebrew.

* "reaching the heavens" -God's love reaching to the heavens is reflecting a reverse image in verse 3 when God is sending down from heaven David's salvation.

* "above the heavens" -Several layers of heaven existing goes all the way back to Genesis chapter 1. However, this verses extends beyond even these heavens.

* David began to praise God in song with accompanying musical instruments. His praise was rooted in God's personal love for him. His praise will not be in a closet or among family and friends. He will praise the Lord his God amongst the nations, the world's people. Strangers, friends, and foes will hear of God's love in song.

The glory of God is over all the earth. David visited only two nations other than Israel that the Bible records. So, these words are for the eternal future.

God's love for us is demonstrated in this: "Jesus Christ laid down his life for us" (1 John 3:16). God's personal love for me will be seen if I choose to look for it. Every day, God's love for me is revealed to me. Often, I do not see God's love because I am to busy to notice it. More often, I do not praise him when I do notice it. Even fewer times do I sing of his love for me. And sadly, how much do I tell others of God's love for me? Now is a good time to examine yesterday and this morning to find how God is demonstrating his love to me now. Then later today tell someone about it.

Listen to the above comments on Psalm 57:09-11.