You have taken account of my wanderings.This phrase reflects the psalmist's awareness of God's intimate knowledge and care for his life. The term "wanderings" suggests a period of distress or exile, possibly referring to David's time fleeing from Saul. In biblical history, David experienced many physical and emotional journeys, often in the wilderness, which symbolizes trials and testing. This phrase reassures believers that God is attentive to their struggles and movements, echoing the sentiment found in
Psalm 139:3, where God is described as being familiar with all our ways.
Put my tears in Your bottle—
The imagery of tears being collected in a bottle is a powerful metaphor for God's compassion and remembrance of human suffering. In ancient Near Eastern culture, it was customary to collect tears in small bottles as a sign of mourning or remembrance. This practice underscores the personal and precious nature of each tear, suggesting that God values and remembers every sorrow experienced by His people. This metaphor can be seen as a type of Christ, who in the New Testament is described as a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3), and who wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41).
are they not in Your book?
The concept of a divine book where God records human actions and experiences is found throughout Scripture. This book symbolizes God's omniscience and the assurance that nothing escapes His notice. InExodus 32:32-33, Moses refers to a book where names are written, and inRevelation 20:12, the books are opened for judgment. This phrase assures believers that their sufferings and faithfulness are recorded by God, providing comfort that their lives have eternal significance. It also points to the ultimate justice and vindication that God will bring, as seen in the prophetic visions of the end times.
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.
Lists and Questions
Top 10 Lessons from Psalm 56
Can Psalm 56:8, which implies God counts each tear, be taken literally without clashing with scientific understanding of human sorrow?
What is the main theme of Tears in a Bottle?
How does God comfort those who mourn?
Who comforts those with broken hearts?(8)
Wanderings.--Rather, in the singular,
wandering,which, from the parallelism with "tears," must mean "mental restlessness," the "tossings to and fro of the mind." Symmachus, "my inmost things."
Put thou my tears into thy bottle.--There is a play of words in the original of "bottle," and "wandering." We must not, of course, think of thelachrymatories,as they are called, of glass, which have been found in Syria (see Thomson,Land and Book,page 103). If these were really in any way connected with "tears," they must have formed part of funeral customs. The LXX., "Thou hast put my tears before thee," and Symmachus and Jerome, "put my tears in thy sight," suggest a corruption of the text; but, in any case, the poet's feeling here is that of Constance in Shakespeare'sKing John--
"His grandam's wrongs, and not his mother's shames,
Draw these heaven-moving pearls from his poor eyes,
Which heaven shall take in nature of a fee;
Ay, with those crystal beads Heaven shall be brib'd
To do him justice and revenge on you."
Book.--As inPsalm 139:16. Some prefer "calculation."
Verse 8. -
Thou tellest my wanderings;
i.e. thou, O God, takest account of my wretched wandering life (
1 Samuel 21-30), and notest each occasion when I am forced to move from one city, or cave, or wilderness to another.
Put thou my tears into thy bottle. Take also note of my tears - let them not pass unheeded. Rather, gather them drop by drop, and store them, as costly wine is stored, in a flask. The thought, thus dressed in a metaphor, was, no doubt (as Professor Cheyne observes), "Store them up in thy memory."
Are they not in thy book?i.e. hast thou not anticipated my request, and entered an account of every tear that I have shed, in thy book of records (comp.
Psalm 69:28;
Psalm 139:16)?
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Youאָ֥תָּה(’āt·tāh)Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859:Thou and thee, ye and youhave taken accountסָפַ֪רְתָּ֫ה(sā·p̄ar·tāh)Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5608:To count, recount, relateof my wanderings;נֹדִי֮(nō·ḏî)Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5112:Wandering (of aimless fugitive)You have putשִׂ֣ימָה(śî·māh)Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7760:Put -- to put, place, setmy tearsדִמְעָתִ֣י(ḏim·‘ā·ṯî)Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1832:Tears (of one weeping)in Your bottle.בְנֹאדֶ֑ךָ(ḇə·nō·ḏe·ḵā)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4997:A skin bottle, skinAre they notהֲ֝לֹ֗א(hă·lō)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, noin Your book?בְּסִפְרָתֶֽךָ׃(bə·sip̄·rā·ṯe·ḵā)Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5612:A missive, document, writing, book
Links
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OT Poetry: Psalm 56:8 You number my wanderings (Psalm Ps Psa.) 
