◄ Psalm 56:2 ►
My enemies pursue me all day long, for many proudly assail me.
Study Bible
My enemies pursue me all day long
This phrase reflects the constant and relentless nature of David's adversaries. Historically, David faced numerous enemies, including King Saul, who pursued him out of jealousy and fear of losing his throne. The phrase "all day long" emphasizes the unceasing pressure and danger David experienced. This relentless pursuit can be seen as a type of the spiritual warfare believers face, as described in Ephesians 6:12, where the struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces. The persistence of David's enemies also foreshadows the continuous opposition Jesus faced from religious leaders throughout His ministry.

for many proudly assail me
The word "proudly" indicates the arrogance and self-confidence of David's enemies. This pride can be linked to the broader biblical theme of God opposing the proud but giving grace to the humble, as seen in James 4:6. The historical context of David's life shows that his adversaries often underestimated him, not recognizing God's anointing and protection over him. This mirrors the way Jesus was underestimated and opposed by the proud religious leaders of His time. The phrase also connects to the prophecy in Psalm 2, where the nations and peoples plot in vain against the Lord's anointed, highlighting the futility of opposing God's chosen ones.

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The author of Psalm 56, David is expressing his trust in God amidst persecution. This psalm is attributed to the time when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

2. Philistines
A group of people who were often in conflict with Israel. In this context, they captured David, which led to his plea for God's help.

3. Gath
A Philistine city where David sought refuge from King Saul, only to find himself in danger again.
Teaching Points
Trust in God's Protection
Despite being surrounded by enemies, David places his trust in God. This teaches us to rely on God's protection in our own times of trouble.

Prayer in Times of Fear
David's response to fear is prayer. We are encouraged to turn to God in prayer when we face our own fears and uncertainties.

God's Sovereignty Over Adversaries
David acknowledges that God is in control, even over his enemies. This reminds us that no matter how powerful our adversaries seem, God is greater.

Faith Over Fear
David's faith in God overcomes his fear of man. We are called to cultivate a faith that trusts God more than we fear human threats.

The Power of God's Word
David's confidence is rooted in God's promises. We should immerse ourselves in Scripture to strengthen our faith and trust in God's promises.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does David's situation in Psalm 56:2 reflect the challenges we face today, and how can we apply his response to our own lives?

2. In what ways does David's trust in God amidst his enemies encourage us to handle conflicts with others?

3. How can the historical context of David's capture in Gath deepen our understanding of his plea in Psalm 56:2?

4. What other biblical figures faced similar adversities, and how did their faith in God help them overcome?

5. How can we practically apply the principle of trusting in God's sovereignty over our adversaries in our daily lives?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Samuel 21:10-15
This passage provides the historical context for Psalm 56, describing David's escape to Gath and his subsequent capture by the Philistines.

Psalm 34
Another psalm written by David during his time in Gath, highlighting his praise and trust in God despite his circumstances.

Matthew 5:44
Jesus' teaching on loving and praying for one's enemies connects to David's reliance on God rather than seeking revenge against his adversaries.
Sermons
Fear and DeliveranceW. Forsyth Psalm 56:1-13
The Deprecable and the DesirableHomilistPsalm 56:1-13
The Struggle and Victory of FaithC. Short Psalm 56:1-13
People
David, Psalmist, Saul
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Attacking, Daily, Enemies, Fight, Fighting, Foes, Haters, Haughtily, Lie, Lifting, Numbers, O, Pride, Proudly, Pursue, Ready, Swallow, Swallowed, Themselves, Trample, Trampled, Wait
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 56:2

     5899   lament
     8805   pride, results

Psalm 56:1-2

     5086   David, rise of

Psalm 56:1-4

     8754   fear

Library
March 27. "What Time I am Afraid, I Will Trust in Thee" (Ps. Lvi. 3).
"What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee" (Ps. lvi. 3). We shall never forget a remark Mr. George Mueller once made in answer to a gentleman who asked him the best way to have strong faith. "The only way," replied the patriarch of faith, "to learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings." This is very true. The time to trust is when all else fails. Dear one, if you scarcely realize the value of your present opportunity, if you are …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

A Song of Deliverance
'For Thou hast delivered my soul from death: hast Thou not delivered my feet from falling? that I may walk before God in the light of the living.'--PSALM lvi. 13 (R.V.). According to the ancient Jewish tradition preserved in the superscription of this psalm, it was written at the lowest ebb of David's fortunes, 'when the Philistines took him in Gath,' and as you may remember, he saved himself by adding the fox's hide to the lion's skin, and by pretending to be an idiot, degraded as well as delivered …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Fear and Faith
What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee. 4. ... In God I have put my trust: I will not fear.'--PSALM lvi. 3, 4. It is not given to many men to add new words to the vocabulary of religious emotion. But so far as an examination of the Old Testament avails, I find that David was the first that ever employed the word that is here translated, I will trust, with a religious meaning. It is found occasionally in earlier books of the Bible in different connections, never in regard to man's relations …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

January the Thirtieth Irresistible Artillery
"When I cry unto Thee, then shall mine enemies turn back." --PSALM lvi. But it must be a real "cry"! It must not be an idle recitation which sheds no blood. It must be a cry like the cry of the drowning, a cry which cleaves the air like a bullet. Said a man to me some while ago, "Assault the heavens with cries for me!" That is the cry which takes the kingdom by storm. When such a cry rends the heavens, "my enemies turn back." A secret and irresistible artillery begins to play upon them, and their …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Now this Election the Apostle Demonstrating to Be...
17. Now this election the Apostle demonstrating to be, not of merits going before in good works, but election of grace, saith thus: "And in this time a remnant by election of grace is saved. But if by grace, then is it no more of works, otherwise grace is no more grace." [2672] This is election of grace; that is, election in which through the grace of God men are elected: this, I say, is election of grace which goes before all good merits of men. For if it be to any good merits that it is given, …
St. Augustine—On Patience

Motives to Holy Mourning
Let me exhort Christians to holy mourning. I now persuade to such a mourning as will prepare the soul for blessedness. Oh that our hearts were spiritual limbecs, distilling the water of holy tears! Christ's doves weep. They that escape shall be like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity' (Ezekiel 7:16). There are several divine motives to holy mourning: 1 Tears cannot be put to a better use. If you weep for outward losses, you lose your tears. It is like a shower …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

The Providence of God
Q-11: WHAT ARE GOD'S WORKS OF PROVIDENCE? A: God's works of providence are the acts of his most holy, wise, and powerful government of his creatures, and of their actions. Of the work of God's providence Christ says, My Father worketh hitherto and I work.' John 5:17. God has rested from the works of creation, he does not create any new species of things. He rested from all his works;' Gen 2:2; and therefore it must needs be meant of his works of providence: My Father worketh and I work.' His kingdom …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Degrees of Sin
Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous? Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others. He that delivered me unto thee, has the greater sin.' John 19: 11. The Stoic philosophers held that all sins were equal; but this Scripture clearly holds forth that there is a gradual difference in sin; some are greater than others; some are mighty sins,' and crying sins.' Amos 5: 12; Gen 18: 21. Every sin has a voice to speak, but some …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

A Few Sighs from Hell;
or, The Groans of the Damned Soul: or, An Exposition of those Words in the Sixteenth of Luke, Concerning the Rich Man and the Beggar WHEREIN IS DISCOVERED THE LAMENTABLE STATE OF THE DAMNED; THEIR CRIES, THEIR DESIRES IN THEIR DISTRESSES, WITH THE DETERMINATION OF GOD UPON THEM. A GOOD WARNING WORD TO SINNERS, BOTH OLD AND YOUNG, TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION BETIMES, AND TO SEEK, BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, TO AVOID, LEST THEY COME INTO THE SAME PLACE OF TORMENT. Also, a Brief Discourse touching the …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Great Shepherd
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. I t is not easy for those, whose habits of life are insensibly formed by the customs of modern times, to conceive any adequate idea of the pastoral life, as obtained in the eastern countries, before that simplicity of manners, which characterized the early ages, was corrupted, by the artificial and false refinements of luxury. Wealth, in those …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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