Psalms
Chapter 56
Cry of Distress and Trust
O God, show your mercy to me, for my foes are in hot pursuit; they press their attack on me all the time.
My accusers pursue me all day long; many attack me.
But when I am afraid, O Mighty One, I put my trust in you;
In God, whose word I praise; in God, I trust, without fear. What can mortals do against me?
All day long they hatch their evil plans, plotting mischief to injure my cause.
They conspire, and lurk around, watching my every move; bent upon taking my life.
They must not be allowed to go unpunished; therefore, O God, in your fury, bring the nations down.
You have a record of my laments; my tears are stored in your wineskin. Are they not written on your scroll?
My enemies turn back when I call on you for help; now I know, that God is for me.
In God, whose word I praise;
in God I trust, without fear. What can mortals do against me?
I am bound to you by vows, O God; I shall offer my thanksgiving.
For you have rescued my soul from death and my feet from stumbling; that I might walk in God’s presence, in the light of the living.
Commentaries
56
‘You have a record of my laments.’ The sentence is more vivid in Hebrew: ‘My tears are stored in your wineskin?’ (v. 9). This reflects what professional mourners did. They shed tears on behalf of others and left them at the grave as a sign of grief. But the tears are not professional; God knows that, and they are worth preserving. We can only understand what God thinks of human suffering through his Son, God’s Word to us. When Jesus saw Martha weeping, he began to cry (Jn 11:33-34). Ultimately, God ‘will wipe all the tears away,’ and there will be no more crying (Rev 21:4). It is helpful to pray with this psalm when faced with so much suffering and tears that seem to have no human answer. This is a prayer of the millions oppressed, who live and no doubt will die crushed. ‘You, Lord, have gathered our tears!’