| Psalms 56:1
| Unto the end, destroy not, for David, for an inscription of a title, when he fled from Saul into the cave. [1 Kings xxiv.]
| Destroy not. Suffer me not to be destroyed, (Challoner; Menochius) or I will not allow my men to destroy an implacable foe, (Haydock) as they entreat me to do. This conduct is worthy of eternal memory. (Worthington) --- The words may also be an admonition to the reader, not to alter this piece, Apocalypse 22:18. (Calmet) --- Al tashcheth, (or thosséth.; Haydock) is supposed to be an instrument, or a favourite song, such as that of Moses, (Deuteronomy 9:26.) which begins thus. But the point is uncertain. The same words occur, Psalm lviii., lix., (Berthier) and lxxiv. They are put in the mouth of Christ suffering, by St. Hilary, etc. --- Cave of Odollam, or rather of Engaddi. (Calmet)
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| Psalms 56:2
| Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me: for my soul trusteth in thee. And in the shadow of thy wings will I hope, until iniquity pass away.
| In thee. This obliges God to take pity, Psalm 46:11. --- Wings, as a chicken retires to the hen, Ruth 2:12., and Matthew 23:37.
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| Psalms 56:3
| I will cry to God, the most High; to God, who hath done good to me.
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| Psalms 56:4
| He hath sent from heaven, and delivered me: he hath made them a reproach that trod upon me. God hath sent his mercy and his truth,
| Sent his mercy, etc., (Calmet) above the power of man. (Worthington) --- Reproach. Saul was forced to entreat David to preserve his family, as he had just spared his own life; which would, no doubt, mortify his pride, (1 Kings 24:18, 22.; Calmet) and seem a reproach to him. (Worthington)
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| Psalms 56:5
| and he hath delivered my soul from the midst of the young lions. I slept troubled. The sons of men, whose teeth are weapons and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
| Lions. Poetry gives life to all things. It represents mercy and truth as God's messengers; and Saul as a young lion. He might have entered the cave with his men, and destroyed David: but Providence caused him to enter alone, so that David had an opportunity to cut off the hem of his garment, and to shew his clemency. --- Sword. Thus were the Jews armed, to demand Christ's death. (Eusebius) (Calmet) --- The persecutors use artificial weapons, and excite one another to fury, 1 Kings 22:16. (Worthington)
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| Psalms 56:6
| Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, and thy glory above all the earth.
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| Psalms 56:7
| They prepared a snare for my feet; and they bowed down my soul. They dug a pit before my face, and they are fallen into it.
| Down. Hebrew, "my soul was bowed down," (Berthier) or "to bow down my soul." (St. Jerome) (Haydock) --- Saul strove many ways to destroy his rival, sending him to fight the Philistines, who, nevertheless, proved the ruin of Saul, 1 Kings 18:17., and 31:1. (Worthington)
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| Psalms 56:8
| My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready: I will sing, and rehearse a psalm.
| My. This and the following verses, from the 107th psalm. (Calmet)
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| Psalms 56:9
| Arise, O my glory; arise, psaltery and harp: I will arise early.
| Glory. Soul, tongue, or rather instruments of music, (Calmet) and spirit of prophecy. (St. Athanasius)
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| Psalms 56:10
| I will give praise to thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing a psalm to thee among the nations.
| Nations. The psalms are now recited, (Worthington) in every language, and the wonders wrought by Christ are proclaimed. (Calmet)
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| Psalms 56:11
| For thy mercy is magnified even to the heavens: and thy truth unto the clouds.
| Clouds. They are exceedingly great. (Haydock) --- Christ has mounted to the highest heavens, and his apostles have preached (Calmet) his saving truths, which, like clouds, render the earth fruitful in good works. (Haydock)
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| Psalms 56:12
| Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth.
| Earth. It is just thy mercy should be extolled. (Menochius; ver. 6.)
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