Psalm 56:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.

NIV: Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me.

NASB: Then my enemies will turn back on the day when I call; This I know, that God is for me.

CSB: Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call. This I know: God is for me.

NLT: My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. This I know: God is on my side!

KJV: When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

NKJV: When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me.

Conviction that God was on his side reassured David. He was running from the jealousy of king Saul (1 Samuel 19:1–2) and was living among Philistine enemies (1 Samuel 21:11–15). Because he trusted deeply in the Lord's protection (Psalm 56:4), David confidently prayed for the Lord to move against his enemies (Psalm 56:7). Despite experiencing hardship and sorrow, David knew that his struggles were meaningful. God knew his troubles intimately (Psalm 56:8; Hebrews 4:15–16). Because the Lord cares for His people, David could confidently say, "God is for me," meaning He was on David's side.

Prayer is powerful. Second Corinthians 10:4 states, "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." When Gideon battled the hordes of Midianites, his fighting force was comically outnumbered but Gideon was confident (Judges 7:15). His battle cry was "A sword for the Lᴏʀᴅ and for Gideon" (Judges 7:20). The Midianites panicked and fled. When Hezekiah prayed for Jerusalem's deliverance from the huge Assyrian army, the Lord answered by eliminating 185,000 Assyrians in their camp. Sennacherib and the survivors hurried home (2 Kings 19:14–36).

The apostle Paul assures believers in Romans 8:31 that "if God is for us, who can be against us?" He points out that in all things, "we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:37). This does not mean that believers are immune to tragedy (John 16:33), but that God never allows us to experience anything without purpose.

Psalm 56:5–11 describes the hateful actions of David's enemies. He pleads with the Lord to punish these foes. He recalls the misery of his flight from Saul in the wilderness (1 Samuel 19:18; 20:1). David was assured God knew his troubles. Poetically, David speaks of God's precious awareness of suffering. He believed the Lord would answer his prayers and defeat his enemies. With confidence that God was on his side, David vowed to praise God's Word, trust in Him, and not be afraid.

David prays for God's protection as he is "oppressed" and "trampled" by his enemies. This refers to his experience in enemy territory near the city of Gath (1 Samuel 21:10–15). Despite natural fear, David chooses to trust in God. He knows the Lord will bring judgment to evil people, and that God sees everything which David has experienced. David resolves to praise the Lord once this danger has passed.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.