Psalms 56:4

4 God, whose word I praise, God I trust; I do not fear. What can [mere] flesh do to me?

Psalms 56:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 56:4

In God I will praise his word
Or praise him for his words for the whole Scripture that was then in being; for those testimonies which were David's counsellors in times of difficulty and distress; and particularly for some word of promise made unto him, he was persuaded would be fulfilled, and in which he gloried and made his boast of, and on which his faith and hope were built; and this he did, and determined to do, in the strength of the Lord, and by the assistance of his grace;

in God I have put my trust;
either in times past, and was not ashamed or confounded; or now, as he determined he would in ( Psalms 56:3 ) ;

I will not fear what flesh can do unto me:
or continue to fear any or all of my enemies; though I have been afraid of them, I will shake off these fears, trusting in the Lord, and depending on his word. Or, "what can flesh do unto me?" ^F20 which is as grass, and the goodliness thereof as the flower of the field. Poor, frail, mortal man! what can he do against me, if God be for me? And therefore why should I fear? Men may contrive schemes, form weapons, and attempt many things against the saints, but can execute nothing, except permitted by the Lord; and the utmost they can do, when suffered, is to kill the body.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 So Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis.

Psalms 56:4 In-Context

2 My enemies trample all day, because many [are] attacking me proudly.

3 {When} I fear, I trust you.

4 God, whose word I praise, God I trust; I do not fear. What can [mere] flesh do to me?

5 All day they twist my words; all their thoughts [are] against me for evil.

6 They attack, they hide, they watch my {steps}, as they [lie in] wait for my life.