You have taken account of my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle--are they not in Your book? You have taken accountThe phrase "You have taken account" suggests a meticulous and personal attention from God towards the psalmist's life. The Hebrew root here is "saphar," which means to count, recount, or record. This implies that God is not distant or indifferent but is intimately aware of every detail of our lives. In a historical context, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of kings keeping detailed records of their subjects, symbolizing God's sovereign and caring oversight. of my wanderings
The term "wanderings" comes from the Hebrew word "nod," which can mean restlessness or a state of being unsettled. This reflects the psalmist's experiences of exile, displacement, or spiritual searching. Historically, this could relate to David's own experiences of fleeing from Saul, highlighting a period of uncertainty and vulnerability. Spiritually, it resonates with the human condition of searching for purpose and belonging, reminding believers that God is aware of their journey and struggles. Put my tears in Your bottle
This vivid imagery of "Put my tears in Your bottle" is unique to the ancient Near Eastern culture, where tears were sometimes collected in small bottles as a sign of mourning or remembrance. The Hebrew word "nodi" for "bottle" suggests a skin or leather container, emphasizing the personal and precious nature of the tears. This metaphor indicates that God values and remembers every sorrow and pain, offering comfort that no suffering is overlooked or forgotten by Him. are they not in Your book?
The phrase "are they not in Your book?" refers to the divine record-keeping of God. The Hebrew word "sefer" for "book" implies a scroll or written document. In biblical times, important events and transactions were recorded in books or scrolls, symbolizing permanence and significance. This assures believers that their lives and struggles are eternally noted by God, providing hope and assurance that their experiences are meaningful and will be addressed in His divine plan. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidThe author of this Psalm, David, is expressing his trust in God amidst his trials. He often faced persecution and danger, particularly from King Saul and later from his own son Absalom. 2. PhilistinesThis Psalm is attributed to the time when David was seized by the Philistines in Gath, a city of the Philistines, highlighting a period of distress and fear for David. 3. GodThe central figure in this verse, God is portrayed as compassionate and attentive, keeping track of David's sufferings and tears. Teaching Points God's Intimate Knowledge of Our SufferingGod is not distant or unaware of our struggles. He takes account of every moment of our distress, symbolized by the collection of tears in a bottle. The Value of Our TearsOur tears are precious to God. They are not wasted or forgotten but are recorded in His book, indicating their significance and His empathy. Trust in God's Record-KeepingJust as God keeps a record of our tears, He also keeps a record of our faithfulness and struggles. This should encourage us to remain steadfast in trials. Hope in God's Future RestorationThe imagery of tears being collected points to a future where God will address and heal our sorrows, offering hope and comfort in present difficulties. Encouragement to Bring Our Sorrows to GodKnowing that God cares deeply for our pain should encourage us to bring our burdens to Him in prayer, trusting in His compassion and understanding. Bible Study Questions 1. How does understanding that God keeps track of our tears change your perspective on personal suffering? 2. In what ways can you find comfort in knowing that God is intimately aware of your struggles, as described in Psalm 56:8? 3. How can the imagery of God collecting tears in a bottle inspire you to trust Him more deeply during times of distress? 4. What other biblical passages can you think of that reinforce the idea of God’s compassion and care for His people? 5. How can you apply the truth of God’s attentive care in Psalm 56:8 to support and encourage others who are experiencing hardship? Connections to Other Scriptures Psalm 34:18This verse speaks of the Lord being close to the brokenhearted, which complements the idea in Psalm 56:8 of God being aware of and caring for our sorrows. Revelation 21:4This verse promises that God will wipe away every tear, connecting to the imagery of God collecting tears in a bottle, symbolizing His care and future restoration. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4Paul speaks of God as the "Father of compassion and the God of all comfort," which aligns with the theme of God’s attentive care in Psalm 56:8. People David, Psalmist, SaulPlaces JerusalemTopics Account, Aren't, Book, Bottle, Count, Counted, Countest, Drops, Hast, Kept, Lament, List, Numberest, Record, Scroll, Tear, Tears, Tellest, Tossings, Wandering, WanderingsDictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 56:8 5198 weeping
5234 bottle
5899 lament
9420 book of life Library March 27. "What Time I am Afraid, I Will Trust in Thee" (Ps. Lvi. 3).
"What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee" (Ps. lvi. 3). We shall never forget a remark Mr. George Mueller once made in answer to a gentleman who asked him the best way to have strong faith. "The only way," replied the patriarch of faith, "to learn strong faith is to endure great trials. I have learned my faith by standing firm amid severe testings." This is very true. The time to trust is when all else fails. Dear one, if you scarcely realize the value of your present opportunity, if you are …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth A Song of Deliverance
'For Thou hast delivered my soul from death: hast Thou not delivered my feet from falling? that I may walk before God in the light of the living.'--PSALM lvi. 13 (R.V.). According to the ancient Jewish tradition preserved in the superscription of this psalm, it was written at the lowest ebb of David's fortunes, 'when the Philistines took him in Gath,' and as you may remember, he saved himself by adding the fox's hide to the lion's skin, and by pretending to be an idiot, degraded as well as delivered …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Fear and Faith
What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee. 4. ... In God I have put my trust: I will not fear.'--PSALM lvi. 3, 4. It is not given to many men to add new words to the vocabulary of religious emotion. But so far as an examination of the Old Testament avails, I find that David was the first that ever employed the word that is here translated, I will trust, with a religious meaning. It is found occasionally in earlier books of the Bible in different connections, never in regard to man's relations …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture January the Thirtieth Irresistible Artillery
"When I cry unto Thee, then shall mine enemies turn back." --PSALM lvi. But it must be a real "cry"! It must not be an idle recitation which sheds no blood. It must be a cry like the cry of the drowning, a cry which cleaves the air like a bullet. Said a man to me some while ago, "Assault the heavens with cries for me!" That is the cry which takes the kingdom by storm. When such a cry rends the heavens, "my enemies turn back." A secret and irresistible artillery begins to play upon them, and their …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year Now this Election the Apostle Demonstrating to Be...
17. Now this election the Apostle demonstrating to be, not of merits going before in good works, but election of grace, saith thus: "And in this time a remnant by election of grace is saved. But if by grace, then is it no more of works, otherwise grace is no more grace." [2672] This is election of grace; that is, election in which through the grace of God men are elected: this, I say, is election of grace which goes before all good merits of men. For if it be to any good merits that it is given, …
St. Augustine—On Patience Motives to Holy Mourning
Let me exhort Christians to holy mourning. I now persuade to such a mourning as will prepare the soul for blessedness. Oh that our hearts were spiritual limbecs, distilling the water of holy tears! Christ's doves weep. They that escape shall be like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity' (Ezekiel 7:16). There are several divine motives to holy mourning: 1 Tears cannot be put to a better use. If you weep for outward losses, you lose your tears. It is like a shower …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12 The Providence of God
Q-11: WHAT ARE GOD'S WORKS OF PROVIDENCE? A: God's works of providence are the acts of his most holy, wise, and powerful government of his creatures, and of their actions. Of the work of God's providence Christ says, My Father worketh hitherto and I work.' John 5:17. God has rested from the works of creation, he does not create any new species of things. He rested from all his works;' Gen 2:2; and therefore it must needs be meant of his works of providence: My Father worketh and I work.' His kingdom …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Degrees of Sin
Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous? Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others. He that delivered me unto thee, has the greater sin.' John 19: 11. The Stoic philosophers held that all sins were equal; but this Scripture clearly holds forth that there is a gradual difference in sin; some are greater than others; some are mighty sins,' and crying sins.' Amos 5: 12; Gen 18: 21. Every sin has a voice to speak, but some …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments A Few Sighs from Hell;
or, The Groans of the Damned Soul: or, An Exposition of those Words in the Sixteenth of Luke, Concerning the Rich Man and the Beggar WHEREIN IS DISCOVERED THE LAMENTABLE STATE OF THE DAMNED; THEIR CRIES, THEIR DESIRES IN THEIR DISTRESSES, WITH THE DETERMINATION OF GOD UPON THEM. A GOOD WARNING WORD TO SINNERS, BOTH OLD AND YOUNG, TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION BETIMES, AND TO SEEK, BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, TO AVOID, LEST THEY COME INTO THE SAME PLACE OF TORMENT. Also, a Brief Discourse touching the …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 The Great Shepherd
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. I t is not easy for those, whose habits of life are insensibly formed by the customs of modern times, to conceive any adequate idea of the pastoral life, as obtained in the eastern countries, before that simplicity of manners, which characterized the early ages, was corrupted, by the artificial and false refinements of luxury. Wealth, in those …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Psalm 56:8 NIVPsalm 56:8 NLTPsalm 56:8 ESVPsalm 56:8 NASBPsalm 56:8 KJV
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