Psalm-56
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Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of Thy Law!
Tehillim - Psalm 119:18..
(JPS-1917 version
of the Tanakh).
Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have
been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have shamefully disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Foreword:
This Psalm is indeed “sad” in its origin, capturing David at one of his lowest point, yet it is structurally a masterpiece of how a soul overcomes the paralyzing grip of fear.
Introduction to Psalm
56:
The superscription identifies this Psalm as “Miktam l'David” (a golden or hidden poem) when the Philistines seized him in Gath. According to 1 Samuel 21, David was fleeing from Saul and sought refuge in Gath, only to be recognized as the one who slew Goliath. Surrounded by enemies in a foreign land and forced to feign madness to survive, David composed this prayer.
The Psalm is famous for its refrain (found in verses 5 and 11-12) where David contrasts the frailty of “flesh” with the steadfastness of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Word.
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Let us now read Psalms
Chapter 56: (JPS-1917 version of
the Tanakh),
1. “For the Leader; upon Jonath-elem-rehokim. (A Psalm” of David; Michtam; when the Philistines took him in Gath.
2. Be gracious unto me, O אֱלֹהִים
- Elohim (God), for man would swallow me up; all the day he fighting oppresseth me.
3. They that lie in wait for me would swallow me up
all the day; for they are many that fight against me, O Most High.
4. In the day that I am afraid, I will put my trust
in Thee.
5. In אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, I will praise His Word in אֱלֹהִים do I trust, I will not be afraid; what can
flesh do unto me?
6. All the day they trouble mine affairs; all their
thoughts are against me for evil.
7. They gather themselves together, they hide themselves,
they mark my steps; according as they have waited for
my soul.
8. Because of iniquity cast them out; in anger bring
down the peoples, O אֱלֹהִים.
9. Thou has counted my
wanderings; put Thou my tears into Thy bottle; are they not in Thy book?
10 Then shall mine enemies turn back in the day that
I call; this I know, that אֱלֹהִים is for me.
11 In אֱלֹהִים
I will praise His Word in יְהוָה
- the LORD, I will praise His Word.
12 In אֱלֹהִים do I trust, I
will not be afraid; what can man do unto me?
13 Thy vows are upon me, O אֱלֹהִים; I will render thank-offerings unto Thee.
14 For Thou hast delivered my soul from death; hast
Thou not delivered my feet from stumbling? that I
may walk before אֱלֹהִים - Elohim in the light of the living”.
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Having read the above, let us now look at our ‘verse by verse’ with
commentary:
The Cry Amidst the Trap (Verses 1-5).
Verse 1: “Be gracious unto me, O אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, for man would swallow me up; all the day he fighting oppresseth me”.
Explanation: David uses the word sha’af (to pant after or swallow up). He feels like prey being hunted by a predator that never rests.
Verse 2: “They that lie in wait for me would swallow me up all the day; for they are many that fight against me, O Most High”.
Explanation: He acknowledges the sheer number of his adversaries. The term Marom (Most High) here serves as a reminder that though his enemies are many, אֱלֹהִים - Elohim sits above them all.
Verse 3: “What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee”.
Explanation: This is one of the most honest verses in the Psalter. David does not claim to be fearless; rather, he identifies the moment fear arises as the exact moment to activate his Bitachon (trust).
Verse 4: “In אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, I will praise His Word in אֱלֹהִים do I trust, I will not be afraid; what can flesh do unto me?”
Explanation: By focusing on the Davar (the Word/Promise) of אֱלֹהִים, David realizes the insignificance of human power (Basar-flesh) compared to the Eternal.
The Malice of the Enemy (Verses 6-10).
Verse 6: “All the day they wrest my words; all their thoughts are against me for evil”.
Explanation: The enemies distort David's intentions. In Gath, every move David made was scrutinized and twisted by the servants of Achish.
Verse 7: “They band themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps; according as they have waited for my soul”.
Explanation: He describes a coordinated, silent stalker. They “mark his heels”, waiting for a single slip to destroy him.
Verse 8: “Because of iniquity shall they escape? In anger cast down the peoples, O אֱלֹהִים”.
Explanation: David appeals to Divine Justice. He asks that their malice not be rewarded with an easy escape.
Verse 9: “Thou hast counted my wanderings; put Thou my tears into Thy bottle; are they not in Thy book?”
Explanation: This is a deeply moving image. David believes that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is so attentive to his suffering that He keeps a record of every “tear” shed in exile. Nothing is lost or forgotten.
Verse 10: “Then shall mine enemies turn back in the day that I call; this I know, that אֱלֹהִים is for me”.
Explanation: The “turning point” is the call to אֱלֹהִים. The certainty “Ze-yadati” (This I know) is the anchor of David’s soul.
The Vow of Praise (Verses 11-14).
Verse 11: “In אֱלֹהִים - Elohim I will praise His Word, in יְהוָה - the LORD I will praise His Word”.
Explanation: David repeats the refrain, but this time He יְהוָה - uses both the Name אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (Justice) and the Tetragrammaton, praising אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Word in every attribute.
Verse 12: “In אֱלֹהִים - Elohim do I trust, I will not be afraid; what can man do unto me?”
Verse 13: “Thy vows are upon me, O אֱלֹהִים; I will render thank-offerings unto Thee”.
Explanation: David considers his promise to praise אֱלֹהִים as a debt that must be paid (Nedarei). He is already planning the Todah (thanksgiving) before the rescue is finished.
Verse 14: “For Thou hast delivered my soul from death; hast Thou not delivered my feet from falling? That I may walk before אֱלֹהִים in the light of the living”.
Explanation: The ultimate goal of rescue is not just survival, but to “walk before אֱלֹהִים” (L’hithalech lifnei Ha-Elohim). He desires life so that he may continue his service in the “Light”.
In Conclusion:
Psalm 56 is the quintessential prayer for the “stranger in a strange land”. It teaches us that while the “flesh” of our enemies may be intimidating, it is ultimately temporary. David’s transition from the “tears in a bottle” to “walking in the light” shows that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is not a distant observer of our wanderings; He is a meticulous bookkeeper of our sorrows and the ultimate deliverer of our feet from stumbling.
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said
the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD
of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk
in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and
do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you,
that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
- the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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“The More Torah, the More Life”
For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
He is
the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with
you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as
the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim -
Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers)
and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s
(blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom
Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens,
PhD.
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