in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?
David wrote this while held by the Philistines in Gath — the very people he had run to for safety. He had asked the same question in verse 4 about flesh; asking it again about man shows what he had learned in between.
From Gath to God
David had fled from Saul to Israel's enemies for protection, and he came carrying Goliath's sword. Gath is where that choice caught up with him.
The Bible TreasuryWhat can David do with Goliath's sword in Gath? Would he even dare to show it? Association with the world and looking to it for protection too often leads to being ruled by it. The title of Psalm 56 implies that this was his case: "The Philistines took him in Gath." … His distress did more for him than any help others had given. It threw him on the mercy of God, and not in vain. Brought into His presence, his faith revived: he became like the David of earlier days. What was his estimate of his troubles now? He saw at once the complete powerlessness of man, of whom he had lately been in such abject fear.
Flesh, then man
The two questions answer two different failures that brought him to Gath.
H. L. RossierHe whom fear of the flesh had led to run from Saul now learns what the flesh is. He whom confidence in man had led to go down to Achish now finds out what man is. He finds only danger and threats… but he still has God. He has learned to trust completely in God… If God is for him, what can the flesh do to him? "In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?" (Ps. 56:4). What will man do to him? "In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Ps. 56:11).
Two things the soul leans on
This confidence rests on two things: God Himself, and what God has said.
J. N. DarbyThe saint's trust is in God. But this trust in God does not exist without some revelation of God. So when the soul can look at Him and trust, His testimony at once becomes its guide and its confidence. That testimony is how He has revealed His mind, and He gave it to us in His love… These two points are the hinges of thought in this psalm: God Himself, and His word. "In God will I praise His word." His word gives us the sure witness of what He will be, and what He is for us. But if it is God, what can flesh do?
Why fear has no ground left
David had been in abject fear of these men. Here he says he will not fear, and the reason lies outside himself.
L M Grant"In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (v. 11). When someone has put his trust in God, there is certainly no reason to fear. God cares perfectly for His own glory. This being so, how utterly powerless man is!
The same words in the New Testament
The same words are taken up again, but there the danger is money rather than armed enemies.
Hamilton SmithWe also have material needs to meet. We are to be careful that they do not become an occasion for greed. We are to be content with the present circumstances in which God has placed us. The reason given is very blessed: whatever our circumstances, the Lord is with us. He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." If the Lord speaks like this, we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?" That last sentence is a question. If the Lord is my helper, what can man do?
What the confidence produces
Verse 11 is not the end. The vows and the walk of the closing verses grow out of it.
Numerical Bible NotesHe once more puts out his challenge: "In God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?" His promised thank-offerings are ready too. He will not fail to make his life a thank-offering as well… So here, the psalmist sees why God delivers his soul from death and keeps his feet from falling. It is so that he "may walk before God in the light of life." … He is to walk before God, who has protected him.
Summary
- Cause — David's fear of Saul drove him to Gath. There he learned what flesh is and what man is, and the lesson threw him back on God.
- Ground — the confidence has two hinges: God Himself, and His word, which tells us what He is for us.
- Effect — trust in God leaves fear with nothing to stand on, because God perfectly guards His own glory.
- Reach — the same words cover ordinary needs and contentment. If the Lord is my helper, the question answers itself.
- Result — deliverance is not the finish. The delivered man walks before God in the light of life, and his life itself becomes an offering of thanks.