[4] In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
Will praise — I will praise the Lord for his word, for his promises of protection and deliverance, made to his people.
Flesh — Infirm and mortal men, called flesh by way of contempt, as Isaiah 31:3.
[6] They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
They gather — After they have severally employed their thoughts against me, they meet together to compare them, and to put them in execution.
Hide — They lurk secretly, that they may pry into my most private actions.
Steps — That they may find some occasion to reproach me.
Soul — Or, life, to take it away.
[7] Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
Escape — Shall they secure themselves by injurious and malicious practices.
The people — These who are mine enemies.
[8] Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
Wanderings — How I have been hunted from place to place.
Put — Regard and pity them.
Are they not — But why do I pray to God to do that which he hath already done?
[12] Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.
Thy vows — I had made vows to express my gratitude, and resolve to perform them.
[13] For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
Walk — That I may serve and glorify thee.
The light — ln this life.
Psalm 56 Bible Commentary
John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes
Verse 4
[4] In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
Will praise — I will praise the Lord for his word, for his promises of protection and deliverance, made to his people.
Flesh — Infirm and mortal men, called flesh by way of contempt, as Isaiah 31:3.
Verse 6
[6] They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
They gather — After they have severally employed their thoughts against me, they meet together to compare them, and to put them in execution.
Hide — They lurk secretly, that they may pry into my most private actions.
Steps — That they may find some occasion to reproach me.
Soul — Or, life, to take it away.
Verse 7
[7] Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
Escape — Shall they secure themselves by injurious and malicious practices.
The people — These who are mine enemies.
Verse 8
[8] Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
Wanderings — How I have been hunted from place to place.
Put — Regard and pity them.
Are they not — But why do I pray to God to do that which he hath already done?
Verse 12
[12] Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.
Thy vows — I had made vows to express my gratitude, and resolve to perform them.
Verse 13
[13] For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
Walk — That I may serve and glorify thee.
The light — ln this life.