Psalms 56:8-11

An Expression Of His Trust In God In The Face Of His Enemies (Psalms 56:8).

His confidence lies in the fact that he knows that he is the chosen of YHWH, that God is keeping count of his wanderings, and has stored up his tears. Thus he knows that God is ‘for him', and that those who are opposing him are thus acting against God. He is sure that when he calls on God, God will turn back his enemies. He will thus trust in God and His promises and not be afraid.

Psalms 56:8

‘You number my wanderings,

Put you my tears into your bottle, are they not in your book?'

Then will my enemies turn back in the day that I call.

This I know, that God is for me,'

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He is certain that God is keeping count of his wanderings, and will bottle up his tears, because He is keeping a record of them. (The ‘bottle' would be a skin container such as was used for storing wine). He is sure that God is interested in, and has kept on record, every aspect of his life. (For God's records compare Psalms 69:28; Psalms 139:16; Malachi 3:16). Thus his enemies need to be careful, for he is certain that when he calls on God his enemies will have to turn back because God is for him. Whatever happens, his enemies will not prevail.

Psalms 56:10

‘In God, I will praise (his) word,

In YHWH, I will praise (his) word,

In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid,

What can man (adam) do to me?

His confidence lies in God, Who has given him a word, which he can praise; in YHWH, Who has given him a word, which he can praise. He is aware that he is one of God's chosen. The word which he praises may be the word that he received from Samuel (his anointing by Samuel must have been accompanied by an explanation (1 Samuel 16:13), and he had then spent time with Samuel in Naioth after he had initially fled from Saul (1 Samuel 19:18)). Or it may be the Torah (the Law of Moses), an indication of his own commitment to YHWH's covenant. Or indeed it could include both.

So his assurance and certainty lie in God, in Whom he has put his trust (compare Psalms 56:3), and thus he will not be afraid, for what can mere created beings (adam) do to him? His confidence in God is total.

The Psalm provides assurance to all true believers that they are in the hands of God, a God who keeps account of their wanderings and a record of their tears. They too, therefore, can enjoy the same assurance and certainty.