Psalm 56:4

4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; ¹I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

Psalm 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.

Psalm 56:4 In-Context

2 my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly.

3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

5 All day long they injure my cause; all their thoughts are against me for evil.

6 They stir up strife, they lurk; they watch my steps, as they have waited for my life.

Cross References

• 1. 56:4 Ps. 27:1; 118:6; Isa. 51:12; Heb. 13:6