Psalmen 56:1

1 Een gouden kleinood van David, voor den opperzangmeester, op Jonath Elem Rechokim; als de Filistijnen hem gegrepen hadden te Gath.

Psalmen 56:1 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 56:1

Be merciful unto me, O God
For David could expect no mercy at the hands of men, among whom he was, whose tender mercies were cruel; he being at Gath, the city of Goliath, whom he had slain, and whose sword he had now with him; and among his brethren and friends, who he might justly fear would revenge his death upon him: wherefore he betakes himself to God, and pleads not any merit or righteousness of his own, but implores the grace and mercy of God; and he might expect to find grace and mercy in this his time of need, since there is mercy with the Lord; he is plenteous in it, distributes it freely, delights in so doing, and does it constantly; his mercy endures for ever, it is from everlasting to everlasting on them that fear him;

for man would swallow me up;
the Targum renders it "isbi", a wicked man: it may be understood of some one man, some great man, as Achish king of Gath; or rather Saul king of Israel, who breathed and panted after his ruin and destruction, as the word ^F16, signifies; who sought to eat up his flesh, to take away his life, and utterly ruin him: or collectively of many, since it appears, by the following verse, that he had many enemies who were desirous to swallow him up. This he mentions as an aggravation of his distress, and as a reason why he hoped the Lord would be merciful to him; and that he, being God, would not suffer than to prevail; see ( 2 Chronicles 14:12 ) ;

he fighting daily oppresseth me;
this shows that Saul is more especially intended, who was continually with his army pursuing him, and sometimes surrounded him and his men, and reduced him to great distress. This may be applied to the old man, the corruptions of nature, and the lusts of the flesh, which are continually warring against the soul, oppress it, bring it into captivity, and threaten to swallow it up.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 (ynpav) "anhelus persequitur me", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "anhelat in me", Cocceius; "contra me", Gejerus.

Psalmen 56:1 In-Context

1 Een gouden kleinood van David, voor den opperzangmeester, op Jonath Elem Rechokim; als de Filistijnen hem gegrepen hadden te Gath.

2 Wees mij genadig, o God! want de mens zoekt mij op te slokken; den gansen dag dringt mij de bestrijder.

3 Mijn verspieders zoeken mij den gansen dag op te slokken; want ik heb veel bestrijders, o Allerhoogste!

4 Ten dage, als ik zal vrezen, zal ik op U vertrouwen.

5 In God zal ik Zijn woord prijzen; ik vertrouw op God, ik zal niet vrezen; wat zoude mij vlees doen?