Psalm 56

Commonplace –

“In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me” (Psalm 56:11).

Here David reminds himself of where he has put his trust. We often need to remind ourselves and again commit to put our trust in God. It is good to remember that this life is comprised of the physical and spiritual; man is only a part of the physical, whereas God is over all. Man’s reach is limited.

In regards to the words “what can man do unto me” Matthew Henry comments:

“This triumphant word, so expressive of a holy magnanimity, the apostle puts into the mouth of every true believer, whom he makes a Christian hero, Heb. 13:6, “We may each of us boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and then I will not fear what man shall do unto me; for he has not power but what he has given him from above””(366).

Finally, the psalmist reminds himself:

“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? (Psalm 56:13)”

The greatest gift we are given, if we choose to receive it, is deliverance from death, which is the wages of sin. Believing God has delivered his soul from death, David inquires as to whether God will “deliver [his] feet from falling”. Here Matthew Henry notes,

“This may be taken either as the matter of his prayer, pleading his experience, or as the matter of his praise, raising his expectations; and those that know how to praise in faith will give God thanks for mercies in promise and in prospect, as well as in possession” (367).

Further, David indicates that, if allowed to continue to walk on this earth, he will do so “before God in the light of the living”. If David is allowed to live, he will live as a follower of God. To this Matthew Henry counsels,

“”That I may do my duty while this life lasts”.” Note, This we should aim at, in all our desires and expectations of deliverance both from sin and trouble, that we may do God so much better the service – that, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, we may serve Him without fear” (367).

Works Cited

Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 56.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.

Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.

© 2025 Angela Hormberg