Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 56:1-7

"Be merciful unto me, O God; for man would swallow me up: All the day long he fighting oppresseth me. Mine enemies would swallow me up all the day long; For they are many that fight proudly against me. What time I am afraid, I will put my trust in thee. In God (I will praise his word), In God have I put my trust, I will not be afraid; What can flesh do unto me? All the day long they wrest my words: All their thoughts are against me for evil. They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, They mark my steps, Even as they have waited for my soul. Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, O God." — Psalms 56:1-7 (ASV)

Be merciful unto me, O God. This petition includes all the good for which we come to the throne of grace. If we obtain mercy there, we need nothing more to make us happy. It also implies our best plea: not our merit, but God's mercy, his free, rich mercy.

We may flee to and trust the mercy of God when surrounded on all sides by difficulties and dangers. His enemies were too strong for him if God did not help him.

He resolves to make God's promises the substance of his praises, and we have reason to do the same. Just as we must not trust an arm of flesh when it is engaged for us, so we must not be afraid of an arm of flesh when it is stretched out against us. The sin of sinners will never be their security. Who knows the power of God's anger; how high it can reach, how forcibly it can strike?