DAWN
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Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2015 March 29
Boy with Bird (c. 1616)
Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640)
Flemish Baroque Style; Antwerp School
Staatliche Museen, Berlin, Germany
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art
Explanation: In Psalm 56 David prays for deliverance from his enemies, the Philistines; and he asks God to judge them. Today's painting depicts the kind of terror which David (who compares himself to a bird) felt while he was in the hands of the giant Philistines.
[ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: 1 Samuel 21:10-15. ]
[ CHRONOLOGY: General. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]
[ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]
[ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
[ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Psalm 56 - #1. Psalm 56 - #2. Psalm 56 - #3. Psalm 56 - #4. Psalm 56 - #5. Psalm 56 - #6. Psalm 56 - #7. FOR CHILDREN: Psalm 56 - #1. Psalm 56 - #2. Kids' Fellowship. ]
David asks God to be merciful to him because daily oppressions were about to swallow him up. Many were fighting against him (1-2) . But he said that when he was afraid he would trust in the Most High God; and he would praise God for his word and would not fear what flesh could do to him (3-4). Every day they twisted his words; and their thoughts were against him for evil. They gathered against him; they hid themselves; they marked his steps; and they waited for his soul (5-6). But, says David, rhetorically, shall they escape by iniquity? So he asks God to cast them down. By contrast, David notes that God knows his wanderings; he puts his tears in a bottle; and he puts his sufferings in his book. Therefore, when he cries to God, his enemies will turn back. He knows this will happen because God is for him. Therefore, he will praise God for his word. He has put his trust in God; so he will not be afraid of what man can do to him. David kept his vows to God; and he will give praises to him because he has delivered his soul from death; and God will deliver his feet from falling so that he will be able to walk before God in the light of the living.
THE PSALTER:
BOOK TWO OF FIVE:
Psalms 42-72.
Psalm 56
Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me.
2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
5 Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul.
7 Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.
8 Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
10 In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.
11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
12 Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.
13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death:
wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer ( Habakkuk) and a musical notation (" upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a " send to" notice (" To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]
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