Through My Bible Yr 01 – September 12

Psalm 56 – 57

Through My Bible – September 12

Psalm 56 – 57 (EHV)

See series: Through My Bible

Psalm 56

When I Am Afraid

Heading

For the choir director. “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” [1]
By David. A miktam. [2]
When the Philistines had seized him in Gath. [3]

The Enemies

1 Be merciful to me, O God, for a man pants as he pursues me. [4]
All day long an attacker presses against me.
2 Those who spy on me pant as they pursue me all day long.
Yes, many are attacking me boldly. [5]

David’s Trust

3 On the day when I am afraid, I will trust in you.
4 In God I praise his word.
In God I trust. I will not fear.
What can flesh do to me?

The Enemies

5 All day long they hurt my cause. [6]
All their thoughts against me are evil.
6 They gather together. They hide.
They try to trip me by grabbing my heels
    while they wait to take my life.

David’s Trust

7 Because of their wickedness do not let them escape. [7]
In your anger bring down the peoples, O God.
8 You keep a record of my tossing and turning. [8]
Keep my tears in your bottle.
Aren’t they all listed in your book?
9 Then my enemies will turn back on the day when I call.
This is how I will know that God is for me.
10 In God I praise a word. [9]
In the Lord I praise a word.
11 In God I trust. I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?

David’s Promise

12 My vows to you are binding, O God.
I will complete my thank offerings to you,
13 because you have delivered my life from death.
Have you not delivered my feet from stumbling
    so I can walk before God in the light of life?

Psalm 57

Refuge in the Shadow of Your Wings
(Psalm 57:7-11 parallels Psalm 108:1-5)

Heading

For the choir director. “Do Not Destroy.” [10] By David. A miktam.
When he fled from Saul. In the cave. [11]

The Opening Plea

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
have mercy on me,
because my soul has taken refuge in you.
In the shadow of your wings I will take refuge
    until destruction has passed by.
2 I call to God Most High,
to God, who completes his plans for me. [12]
3 He will send from heaven, and he will save me. Interlude
He puts to shame the one who pants as he pursues me. [13]
God will send his mercy and his faithfulness.

The Problem

4 My life is spent among lions.
I lie down among ferocious men,
whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongue is a sharp sword.
5 Be exalted above the heavens, O God.
May your glory be over all the earth.
6 They spread a net for my steps.
My soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in front of me. Interlude
They have fallen into it.

David’s Confidence

7 My heart is steadfast, O God.
My heart is steadfast.
I will sing and I will make music.
8 Awake, my soul! [14]
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
9 I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O Lord.
I will make music to you among the nations, [15]
10 because your great mercy reaches above the heavens,
and your faithfulness to the skies.
11 Be exalted above the heavens, O God.
Let your glory be over all the earth.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 56:1 This may be the name of the tune. The translation reads the Hebrew word alm as a word which means oaks or terebinths. The standard Hebrew text reads it as a word for silent. This would result in the translation silent dove, distant ones.
  2. Psalm 56:1 A miktam is a type of song. The meaning is uncertain. It may mean a golden psalm or a choice piece or a psalm inscribed on a tablet. Miktams include Psalms 57–60.
  3. Psalm 56:1 See 1 Samuel 21.
  4. Psalm 56:1 Or hotly pursues me. Or the verb may be a homonym that means tramples me.
  5. Psalm 56:2 Some take the word translated boldly as a name of God that means Exalted One. If this is correct, the word may belong with the next verse.
  6. Psalm 56:5 Or they twist my words
  7. Psalm 56:7 The Hebrew reads because of wickedness, deliverance to them. This does not make sense in the context. The translation assumes there was an accidental omission of a negative. Another way to handle the problem is to make the phrase a question: because of their wickedness, will they escape?
  8. Psalm 56:8 Or wandering
  9. Psalm 56:10 This cryptic expression is a literal translation.
  10. Psalm 57:1 This may be the name of the tune.
  11. Psalm 57:1 The cave at Adullam in 1 Samuel 22 or the cave at En Gedi in 1 Samuel 24
  12. Psalm 57:2 Or avenges me
  13. Psalm 57:3 Or who tramples me
  14. Psalm 57:8 Literally my glory
  15. Psalm 57:9 The main Hebrew text divides the word for nations into two words to create the derogatory expression non-nations.

The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.