Psa 56-60 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Ps 56:1-13: Ps 56 This individual lament moves from petition to confidence two times (56:1-4 , 5-13 ). 56:title David was seized by Philistines concerned about his loyalties and brought before King Achish (1 Sam 21:10-15 ).

Summary for Ps 56:1-13: Ps 56 ^a This individual lament moves from petition to confidence two times (56:1-4 ^b, 5-13 ^c). 56:title ^d David was seized by Philistines concerned about his loyalties and brought before King Achish (1 Sam 21:10-15 ^e).
56:4 ^f mere mortals: Or mere flesh, in contrast to the immortal and infinitely more powerful God (see Isa 2:22 ^g).
Summary for Ps 56:5-7: 56:5-7 ^h The psalmist specifies his charge against his attackers as he prays for their evil to cease.
56:8 ⁱ The psalmist makes a play on the Hebrew words translated sorrows (Hebrew nod) and bottle (Hebrew no’d).
56:11 ^j mere mortals (Hebrew ’adam): The psalm also uses two other words for man: ’enosh (“people,” 56:1 ^k) and basar (“mere mortals,” 56:4 ^l). All express the ideas of mortality and finitude.
56:13 ^m The light of God’s goodness and salvation will replace the darkness of death (see 18:25-29 ⁿ; 27:1 ^o).

‏ Psalms 57

Summary for Ps 57:1-11: Ps 57 ^p The psalmist’s cry for mercy and protection quickly turns into an affirmation of trust and confidence in the Lord (57:1-4 ^q). When the wicked fall into their own traps (57:6 ^r), the psalmist will praise the Lord (57:7-10 ^s).
57:title ^t David ... fled from Saul and went into the cave: See 1 Sam 22:1 ^u or Ps 24:1-8 ^v.
57:1 ^w shadow of your wings: As a bird protects its young, God protects the one who trusts in him (see 17:8 ^x).

‏ Psalms 58

Summary for Ps 58:1-11: Ps 58 ^y The administration of justice is a mark of good government. God expects nothing less from his people. The psalmist condemns Israel’s leaders for abusing their power, and he calls on the Lord to rain down his curses upon the wicked. The demonstration of divine justice will reassure the godly that God is just.
Summary for Ps 58:1-5: 58:1-5 ^z The administrators of justice were furthering their own interests rather than those of the needy. The absence of justice gradually resulted in a violent society. 58:1 ^aa rulers (or gods): This designation was used for high officials and administrators of justice (82:1 ^ab, 6 ^ac). Elsewhere, it might refer to angelic creatures (89:7 ^ad) or to the gods of the nations (82:1 ^ae; Dan 11:36 ^af).
58:3 ^ag All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5 ^ah); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23 ^ai; Jas 4:1-10 ^aj).
58:4 ^ak Venom here means poisonous speech (see 140:3 ^al).
58:6 ^am The psalmist calls on God to break the destructive power of the wicked.
58:8 ^an When moving over dry ground, snails dry up.
Summary for Ps 58:9-10: 58:9-10 ^ao God’s judgment will come suddenly. The certainty of vindication brings joy to the godly.
58:11 ^ap Vindication is the reward of those who live for God.

‏ Psalms 59

Summary for Ps 59:1-17: Ps 59 ^aq The psalmist laments the power of enemies who conspire with other nations. 59:title ^ar the time Saul sent soldiers to watch David’s house: See 1 Sam 19:11-18 ^as.
Summary for Ps 59:1-2: 59:1-2 ^at Protect me (or place me on high): When surrounded by evil, the godly pray for God to set them apart for himself and protect them.
Summary for Ps 59:4-5: 59:4-5 ^au The psalmist asks God to show the treacherous, deceptive, and wicked traitors no mercy (see 25:2 ^av).
Summary for Ps 59:6-8: 59:6-8 ^aw The wicked threaten like vicious dogs, but the Lord responds with scorn.
Summary for Ps 59:11-13: 59:11-13 ^ax The psalmist prays that the wicked will be forced to endure the same agonizing pain they have caused.
Summary for Ps 59:14-16: 59:14-16 ^ay The wicked will go unsatisfied, but the psalmist will praise the Lord’s power and unfailing love.

‏ Psalms 60

Summary for Ps 60:1-12: Ps 60 ^az The psalmist laments a national defeat and cries out to God for rescue. 60:title ^ba useful for teaching: This psalm was taught to young people as part of their education.

• regarding the time: See 2 Sam 8:13-14 ^bb.

• Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah refer to the Arameans of northwest Mesopotamia and Syria (see study note on Gen 24:10).

• The tune “Lily of the Testimony” is unknown today.
Summary for Ps 60:1-4: 60:1-4 ^bc When God’s people experience his discipline, they affirm their loyalty and await God’s answer.
60:3 ^bd wine (Hebrew yayin) that sent us reeling: Yayin, the generic Hebrew term meaning “wine,” is often associated with drunkenness (2 Sam 13:28 ^be; Isa 5:11 ^bf; 28:7-8 ^bg; cp. Ps 104:15 ^bh; Deut 14:26 ^bi; Isa 55:1 ^bj); it symbolized God’s judgment of the wicked (Ps 75:8 ^bk; Jer 51:7 ^bl).
60:4 ^bm God raised a banner over his people to serve as a rallying point and as a source of pride and confidence.

• The fear of God that leads to wisdom (111:10 ^bn) is not weakness; it provides the perspective and strength required to do what is right.
Summary for Ps 60:5-12: 60:5-12 ^bo This section is repeated verbatim in 108:6-13 ^bp. 60:5 ^bq The psalmist prays for rescue based on the special relationship between God and his people.
Summary for Ps 60:6-8: 60:6-8 ^br The Lord responds with a message of promise. He shares his land with his people as spoils of war. 60:6 ^bs Shechem and Succoth represent Israel’s heartland.
60:9 ^bt Destroying a defeated invader’s capital (the fortified city) would help to ensure that they would not attack again. The capital of Edom was Bozrah, located to the southeast of Israel. Only God could grant victory.