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Psalm 56:4 and the Other Verses of Psalm 56

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“As Moses lifted up the serpent [the serpent made of bronze described in Numbers 21:8–9] in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whosoever believes in Him will have eternal life, for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten [uniquely born] Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

“…for by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest any man should boast.”

Above is the content of John 3:14–16 and the content of Ephesians 2:8–9, respectively.  Itʼs worthwhile to refrain from receiving the mark referenced in Revelation 13:11–18 and to instead receive eternal life for free by believing that Jesus is the Savior.  Before doing any Bible studying and before praying to God the Father, it is useful for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior to try to think of any sins that one might have committed since one last confessed oneʼs known post-salvation sins to God the Father, and if one has indeed committed any, to then silently confess those sins to God the Father—confessing only one time for each sin—in accordance with what is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

This webpage could be periodically updated.  If there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, and if the original author of this webpage is amongst those people disappearing en masse, then it is possible that this webpage will no longer be updated.  Also, if there is a mass disappearance of people professing to be Christians, it is worthwhile to consider the possibility that those people have exited from the earth on the occasion known as the Rapture instead of assuming that that mass disappearance involves extraterrestrials abducting those people or involves the annihilation of those people or involves anything else other than the Rapture.  

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Also, it is possible that it is worthwhile to print this content in case of time periods involving lack of Internet connectivity.  

When studying the Word of God, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Hebrews 4:12:  

“Indeed, the Word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit and of the joints and the marrow and is a critic of thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Note:  The heart refers to the mind.  

It is also beneficial to keep in mind the content of 2 Timothy 3:16–17 when studying the Word of God:  

“All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God might be mature, having been thoroughly furnished unto all good work.”

It is the responsibility of a pastor-teacher to endeavor to correctly understand the Word of God and then to accurately teach the Word of God, as per the content of 2 Timothy 2:15:  

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of Truth.”

A pastor-teacher is a communicator rather than a crutch on which to be leaned.  In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping a pastor-teacher.  Likewise, a believer should refrain from putting oneʼs trust in and thereby serving as a devoted follower of and thus worshiping anyone other than the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit], as per Joshua 24:15, the content of which references Joshua speaking to the Israelites:  

If it is disagreeable/bad/evil/wrong/wretchedness/displeasing in your sight to serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One, choose for yourselves today whom you serve/worship:  whether the gods ['elohiym / false gods] which your fathers have served/worshiped which were beyond the river or the gods ['elohiym / false gods] of the Amorites in whose land you are living.  As for me and my house, we serve/worship Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One.

Note:  Joshua, the leader of the Israelites after Joshua had been serving as the assistant of Moses while Moses was the leader of the Israelites, set the example for the Israelites.  Joshua chose to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship God the Father rather than Joshua choosing to put his trust in and thereby serve as a devoted follower of and thus worship the lesser of multiple evils amongst multiple choices of 'elohiym [el-oh-HEEM].  The word 'elohiym with a lowercase e can refer to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges.  The word 'Elohiym with a capital E refers to the Trinity.  The word 'elohiym can also be used to refer to might as in mightiness.  In that regard, the use of the word 'elohiym in reference to false gods, to angels, or to human rulers or judges involves the connotation of mightiness in comparison to an average human.  When a person puts oneʼs trust in and thereby serves as a devoted follower of and thus worships an angel or human, that angel or human is that personʼs false god.  Regarding the foregoing, the content of Joshua 24:15 involves Joshua calling attention to the choices that the Israelites had, and that content involves Joshua permitting the Israelites to make their choices while Joshua led by example with his choice.  

The gift of pastor-teacher is for the purpose of each pastor-teacher functioning as a messenger who communicates the Word of God rather than functioning as a priest between the Trinity and mankind.  In that regard, the time period that can be referred to as the Church Age started fifty days after the Lord Jesus Christ was resurrected, and all Church Age believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are priests.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Church Age believers, and believers should be willing to acknowledge/confess/profess to people the believersʼ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as per Hebrews 4:14–15:  

Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast the acknowledgment/confession/profession.  Indeed, we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One Who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek [mel-KIZ-uh-dek], who was the ruler of Salem when Abraham was still named Abram.  Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, as per Genesis 14:18, which references Melchizedek greeting Abram:  

Then Melchizedek king of Salem has brought out bread and wine, and he is a priest of 'El [AYL] 'Elyown [el-YOHN] / God [focusing on God the Fatherʼs power] Most High.

The Lord Jesus Christ is also both a king and a priest because the Lord is the Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, as per Hebrews 7:14–17:  

Indeed, it is evident that our Lord has arisen from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.  Also, it is still much more evident:  that according to the similarity of Melchizedek, Another of a different type of priest arises, Who has become such not on the basis of a law of fleshly command / physical requirement but according to the power of an indestructible life.  Indeed, it is attested:  “YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK.”

Note:  The Lord Jesus Christ is from the tribe of Judah.  Also, the Lord Jesus Christ is qualified to be a priest because He was resurrected and therefore has an indestructible body.  The above content in all capital letters is a reference to Psalm 110:4.  

Because a king is royalty, a king who is a priest is a royal priest.  In that regard, Church Age believers are royalty because they are members of the Lord Jesus Christʼs family.  Therefore, all Church Age believers are royal priests, as per 1 Peter 2:9–10:  

However, you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR ACQUISITION/PRESERVATION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light, for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are GODʼS PEOPLE.  You had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

Note:  Before the Church Age, Gentiles were not Godʼs people.  In the Church Age, both Jewish and Gentile believers are Godʼs people.  The content of 1 Peter 2:10 references Hosea 2:23.  In that regard, Peter uses references involving Israel in the Old Testament to refer to Church Age believers.  

Itʼs the message rather than the messenger that should be the focus of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Put succinctly:  itʼs the message rather than the messenger.  In that regard, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of Revelation 22:8–9, which was written by the apostle John, who, in addition to writing The Revelation to John, wrote The Gospel According to John, The First Epistle of John, The Second Epistle of John, and The Third Epistle of John:  

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed me these things, but he says* to me, “Do not do that.  I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who keep the words of this book.  Worship God.”

*Note:  The word says is in the Greek historical present tense.  By means of the Greek historical present tense, past action or future action can be described from the perspective of someone seeing the action as it occurs.  

Regarding messages, believers should use the Word of God to examine what is being communicated.  That is what the Bereans who are mentioned in Acts 17:10–12 did:  

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews.  Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.  Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.

Note:  The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”  

Today, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to meet believers in the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds on the occasion of the Rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday.  The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.  While it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026, it is worthwhile for believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to get into the habit of being prepared every day for the return of the Lord, just in case the Rapture will occur on a day other than the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah.  Furthermore, it is worthwhile to be in the habit of being prepared for the Rapture so that if it does occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah, one can be prepared for that day because of already being in the habit of being prepared.  Examples of being prepared for the Rapture include applying the content of 1 John 1:9 whenever one sins, being unselfish, and whenever circumstances are such that an opportunity arises, sharing the gospel—the good news that believing that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior Who was judged on the cross for the sins of humanity is the means by which a person is able to have eternal life.  Regarding sharing the gospel, one could also have a written or printed message containing the gospel with that written or printed message located somewhere where it could be easily noticed so that if a person or people were to read or hear that written or printed message either before or after the Rapture occurs, that person or people would thereby read or hear the gospel by means of that written or printed message.  

Regarding information about the Rapture, it is beneficial to keep in mind the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51–52:  

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope, for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again—and we do indeed believe that Jesus died and rose again—so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.  Indeed, this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout of command, with a voice of an archangel and with a trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive who remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51–52

Behold, I tell you a mystery:  we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, for a trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.

After the Rapture will be the seven-year Tribulation.  The believers who will be alive on the earth when the Rapture occurs will escape the Tribulation.  1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 covers that topic.  In that regard, in the book 1 Thessalonians, the content of 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 is immediately followed by the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11.  

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night.  While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.  However, you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief, for you are all sons of light and sons of day.  We are not of night nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep as others, but let us be alert and sober.  Indeed, those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.  However, since we are of day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and benevolence/goodwill, and as a helmet, the hope / absolute confidence of deliverance, for God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining deliverance through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.  Therefore, comfort one another and edify one another, just as you also are doing.

Note:  In this context, the day of the Lord is the time period that consists of the Rapture, the seven years of the Tribulation, and the Second Advent.  In that regard, deliverance from the Tribulation is the deliverance in this context.  Also, unspecified is who will be saying “Peace and safety!”  In this context, sleeping refers to a lack of alertness.  The alertness in this context involves being ready for the Rapture.  In order to be ready for the Rapture, a believer needs to be filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and to pay attention for historical trends such as people saying “Peace and safety!” and for historical trends that match the pattern of the world being on the brink of tremendous calamities like those that will occur during the Tribulation.  Regarding being filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

The verse of the day for May 30th is Psalm 56:4.  Because it is useful to study verses in the context of the verses around them, below is content related to Psalm 56.  

Note:  Gath was a city of the Philistines [FIL-ih-steenz].  For geographical context, below is a link to a map that shows the location of Gath,  On that map, Gath is located in grid coordinate B6.  For reference, Jerusalem is located in grid coordinate C6.  The map also shows the locations of tribes of Israel.  Absent from the map is any reference to the land of the tribe of Levi.  The land of the tribe of Levi consisted of forty-eight cities and nearby land within the lands of other tribes.  The topic of the cities and land of the Levites is covered in the content of Joshua 21.  

https://Classic.NET.Bible.org/images/maps/ot4.jpg

If the above link is inaccessible, the below link can be tried instead.  

https://NETBible.org/media/images/maps/ot4.jpg

The Hebrew adjective that is translated into English as “Philistine” is פְּלִשְׁתִּי [pronounced pehl-ish-TEE and can be transliterated as Pelishtiy'].  (Hebrew is written and read from right to left.)  The Hebrew adjective Pelishtiy is derived from the Hebrew noun פְּלֶשֶׁת [pronounced pehl-EH-sheth and can be transliterated as Pelesheth].  The Hebrew noun Pelesheth can be translated as “Philistia.”  The English word Palestine, which refers to the land where Israel is located, is derived from the Hebrew noun Pelesheth.  

Some psalms have superscriptions.  In the context of the structure of the psalms, a superscription is an inscription at the top of a psalm.  We are currently unable to know whether each superscription was written at the time each psalm was written or whether the superscriptions were added after each psalm was written.  Because we are unable to know when the superscription of Psalm 56 was written, we are unable to know whether David wrote that superscription.  Regardless of those uncertainties, Psalm 56 still has value.  

In the case of Psalm 56, which is a Psalm the authorship of which is attributed to David, the superscription contains a reference to David from the third-person perspective.  The first-person perspective would involve I, my, us, our, etc.  [The abbreviation etc. (pronounced ET SET-uh-ruh) is used to represent the adverb et cetera (also pronounced ET SET-uh-ruh); the adverb et cetera came from the Latin phrase et cetera (pronounced ET KEH-teh-rah), which means “and the rest.”]  The second-person perspective would involve you, your, etc.  The third-person perspective involves he, she, it, his, her, its, they, their, etc.  

Psalm 56:1

For/To the preeminent one / the overseer / the superintendent / the director / the chief, upon / above / according to / by reason of / because of / concerning / on behalf of / towards / in addition to / together with distant silent dove/pigeon:  a Mikhtam [meekh-TAHM] of David, in the Philistinesʼ seizing him in Gath.  

Be gracious to me, O 'Elohiym [el-oh-HEEM] / Godhead, for man has trampled me / crushed me / panted after me / swallowed me up.  Fighting all day / every day, he oppresses me.

Note:  The term Godhead refers to the Trinity [God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit].  Unspecified in Psalm 56 is to whom the phrase the preeminent one / the overseer / the superintendent / the director / the chief refers.  Also, the Hebrew preposition that can be translated as “upon,” “above,” “according to,” “by reason of,” “because of,” “concerning,” “on behalf of,” “towards,” “in addition to,” and “together” is עַל [pronounced AHL and can be transliterated as `al].  Because that preposition can have a variety of uses, the translation of that preposition depends upon the context in which it is used.  The context of Psalm 56 is such that the usage of `al is unclear.  In addition, the usage of the phrase distant silent dove/pigeon is also unclear.  Furthermore, unspecified is the meaning of the word Mikhtam.  Regardless of how the preposition `al and the phrase distant silent dove/pigeon are being used in this psalm and regardless of the meaning of the word Mikhtam, this psalm can be of benefit because it has content involving what a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ can do with regard to people who mistreat that believer.  

This psalm references Davidʼs enemies the Philistines capturing David when David had fled from King Saul, the ruler of Israel.  In that regard, when David had fled from King Saul, David went to King Achish, the Philistine ruler of Gath.  This occurred after David had slain Goliath the giant, who was from Gath.  The matter of David going to Gath is covered in 1 Samuel 21:10–15 and 1 Samuel 22:1.  In that regard, below is content related to 1 Samuel 21:10–15 and 1 Samuel 22:1.  

1 Samuel 21:10

Then David arises and flees that day from Saul, and goes to Achish king of Gath.

Note:  The uses of a present tense in verbs in this verse and the verses that follow are references to what has occurred in the past.  Such uses of a present tense have a rhetorical effect.  In that regard, using a verb in a present tense to refer to the past can help a reader or hearer of the Word of God imagine past events as though the reader or hearer is watching those events as they occur.  

1 Samuel 21:11

The servants of Achish say to him, “Is this not David the king of the land?  Do they not sing of this one in dances, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands’?”

Note:  Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is why the servants of King Achish referred to David as the king of the land.  In addition, unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is to what land the servants of King Achish were referencing.  In that regard, while David eventually became the king of Israel, he became king at a time after the time that is described in this verse.  

The servants of King Achish recognized David as a person who had been responsible for the slaying of many Philistines.  Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is whether the servants of King Achish were saying that David had single-handedly killed many Philistines or whether David had led other Israelites who killed many Philistines.  Also, unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is whether the reference to the quantity thousands was a literal reference to a multiple of a thousand or whether it was a metaphorical reference to a large quantity.  Likewise, unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is whether the reference to the quantity ten thousands was a literal reference to a multiple of ten thousand or whether it was a metaphorical reference to a large quantity that was larger than the quantity referenced by the reference to the quantity thousands.  Regardless of whether the usages of thousands and ten thousands were literal or metaphorical, the servants of King Achish called attention to King Saul having been responsible for the slaying of many Philistines, and the servants of King Achish also called attention to David having been responsible for the slaying of even more Philistines than the number for which Saul had been responsible.  

Regarding the usage of quantities involving the word thousand, large quantities are referenced in the Bible by means of thousands.  In that regard, the only two instances of quantities involving the word million in the Bible are expressed by means of the use of the word thousand.  One of those instances is in the Old Testament, and the other instance is in the New Testament.  The reference in the Old Testament involves expressing one million as a thousand thousands.  In that regard, the content of 2 Chronicles 14:9 references three hundred thousand members of the Israelite tribe of Judah and two hundred and eighty thousand members of the Israelite tribe of Benjamin—a total of five hundred and eighty thousand—defeating one million Cushites.  The Cushites were descended from a grandson of Noah.  That grandson was named Cush.  The father of Cush was Ham.  Where the land Cush was located is uncertain.  The reference in the New Testament involves expressing two hundred million as twenty thousand of ten thousands.  In that regard, the content of Revelation 9:16 references two hundred million fallen angels being released from a place of imprisonment at the Euphrates River during the Tribulation.  Those angels will kill people during the Tribulation.  Also, absent from the Bible is any reference to a quantity of a billion or more.  

Regarding large quantities being referenced in the Bible by means of thousands, the Millennium—the time that the Lord Jesus Christ will rule on the earth—will be one thousand years long.  In that regard, the content of Hebrews 4:8–9 covers the topic of Joshuaʼs leading of Israelites into the Promised Land not resulting in a complete rest for the Israelites in the Promised Land.  The Promised Land is the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the Israelites.  The complete rest for Israelites in the Promised Land will start on the occasion of the Second Advent.  Below is content related to Hebrews 4:8–9.  

Hebrews 4:8

Indeed, if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.

Note:  The complete rest that Israelites will experience in the Promised Land will occur during the Millennium, the 1,000-year reign of the Lord on the earth.  

Hebrews 4:9

Therefore, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

Note:  Under the regulations of the Mosaic Law, every seventh day was a Sabbath day, and every seventh year was a Sabbath year.  The term Mosaic Law refers to the laws communicated by Moses to the ancient Israelites.  Because Moses communicated those laws, they are known collectively as the Mosaic Law.  The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Mosaic Law by being judged on the cross for the sins of humanity.  Now that the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Mosaic Law, no believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are under the regulations of the Mosaic Law.  The topic of the Sabbath year is referenced in Exodus 23:10–11 and Leviticus 25:1–7.  The topic of the Sabbath day is referenced in Exodus 23:12.  Also, every fiftieth year was a Sabbath year.  That year is known as the Year of Jubilee.  In that regard, every forty-ninth year was also a Sabbath year; therefore, there would be two Sabbath years in a row during the time spanning every forty-ninth and fiftieth year.  The topic of the Year of Jubilee is referenced in Leviticus 25:8–17.  In addition, there were Sabbath days on certain days of the year each year.  Those Sabbath days occurred during the times of celebrations of feasts that were part of the regulations of the Mosaic Law.  Under the regulations of the Mosaic Law, there were seven feasts that the Israelites were supposed to celebrate each year.  

Regarding the word Sabbath in Hebrews 4:9, the content of Hebrews 4:8 provides context for Hebrews 4:9.  Because the context provided by the content of verse 8 involves the 1,000-year-long Millennium, the content of verse 9 indicates that the Millennium will be a Sabbath Millennium.  That means that there are six other millennia that precede the Sabbath Millennium, which means that human history will be 7,000 years long.  

As of the time of the sending of this message on May 30th, 2026, it is possible that human history is close to being 6,000 years long.  In that regard, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ should refrain from thinking that the world is now in the midst of the Tribulation because the Rapture has not occurred yet.  Also, a believer should apply the content of Acts 17:10–12 whenever a believer becomes aware of anyone claiming that the world is in the midst of the Tribulation.  Below is content related to Acts 17:10–12.  

Acts 17:10–12

The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, who, when they arrived, went into the synagogue of the Jews.  Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all eagerness / readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.  Therefore, many of them believed, and not a few prominent Greek women and men.

Note:  The phrase not a few means “quite a few.”  

Regarding applying the content of Acts 17:10–12 with regard to whether the world is in the midst of the Tribulation, the Rapture will occur before the Tribulation.  Also, the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 indicates that before the Rapture, people will declare “Peace and safety!”  With regard to that declaring of peace and safety, it is possible that the declaring of “Peace and safety!” before the Rapture will occur will be at the end of warfare that can be referred to as birth pangs before the Tribulation.  Also, because it is possible that the declaring of “Peace and safety!” before the Rapture will occur will be related to peace involving Israel, it is possible that that declaring of “Peace and safety!” will be in relation to warfare that involves anti-Semitism directed toward Jewish people.  

Also, the content of 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 indicates that believers are supposed to be alert with regard to the timing of the Rapture.  In that regard, while the exact date of the Rapture might be unknown to a believer, a believer can be aware of current events that could lead to the events of the Tribulation.  Regarding being alert, levels of alertness can be categorized in terms of a mindset color code that involves four colors.  The mindset color code describes states of awareness.  Below are the conditions of alertness of the mindset color code and descriptions of them.  

With regard to being alert for the Rapture, a believer who is oblivious is in Condition White.  In contrast, a believer who is alert is in Condition Yellow.  When a believer notices current events that could fit the pattern of circumstances that could lead to what will occur during the Tribulation, and if that believer then gets mentally prepared to share the gospel, that believer is in Condition Orange.  Regarding Condition Red, that condition is inapplicable to a believer experiencing the Rapture because the Rapture is a delivery from danger and because when believers will be experiencing the Rapture, believers will be unable to share the gospel with unbelievers.  

Because believers are unable to be in Condition Red with regard to the timing of the Rapture, believers need to be prepared for two things at once:  the Rapture occurring soon and the Rapture not occurring soon.  In that regard, a believer needs to keep living his or her life day by day, learning and obeying the Word of God.  Also, regardless of on what date the Rapture will occur, the time during which each Church Age believer has opportunities to be in fellowship with the Trinity and thereby filled with the power of the Holy Spirit is rapidly running out.  In that regard, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit and is out of fellowship with the Trinity.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  The procedure for confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of oneʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is mentioned in 1 John 1:9:  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Fellowship with God the Father and God the Son is mentioned in 1 John 1.  Being out of fellowship with God the Holy Spirit is referenced in Ephesians 4:30.  In that regard, when a believer sins, that believer grieves the Holy Spirit.  Losing the filling of the power of God the Holy Spirit is referenced in 1 Thessalonians 5:19.  In that regard, when a believer sins, the power of God the Holy Spirit is quenched in that believer.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.  

The content of 1 Samuel 21:11 is repeated below for reference.  

1 Samuel 21:11

The servants of Achish say to him, “Is this not David the king of the land?  Do they not sing of this one in dances, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands’?”

1 Samuel 21:12

David takes these words in his heart and is greatly afraid of Achish, king of Gath.

Note:  The heart refers to the mind.  

1 Samuel 21:13

He changes his behavior before their eyes and acts insanely in their hands and scribbles on the doors of the gate and lets his saliva run down into his beard.

Note:  David pretended to be insane.  

1 Samuel 21:14

Then Achish says to his servants, “Behold, you see the man behaving as a madman.  Why do you bring him to me?

1 Samuel 21:15

“Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this one to act the madman in my presence?  Does this one come into my house?”

Note:  Because King Achish thought that David was insane, King Achish indicated that he wanted David to be kept away from King Achish.  

1 Samuel 22:1

David departs from there and escapes to the cave of Adullam, and when his brothers and all his fatherʼs household hear, they go down there to him.

The content of Psalm 56:1 is repeated below for reference.  

Psalm 56:1

For/To the preeminent one / the overseer / the superintendent / the director / the chief, upon / above / according to / by reason of / because of / concerning / on behalf of / towards / in addition to / together with distant silent dove/pigeon:  a Mikhtam [meekh-TAHM] of David, in the Philistinesʼ seizing him in Gath.  

Be gracious to me, O 'Elohiym [el-oh-HEEM] / Godhead, for man has trampled me / crushed me / panted after me / swallowed me up.  Fighting all day / every day, he oppresses me.

Psalm 56:2

My foes have trampled me / crushed me / panted after me / swallowed me up all day / every day, for many are fighting against me, O Most High / are fighting proudly against me.

Note:  Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is whether the foes referenced in this verse are the Philistines, Saul and his supporters, or the Philistines and Saul and his supporters.  Also, regarding the phrase O Most High and the word proudly, the last word of this verse is the Hebrew noun מָרוֹם [pronounced mah-ROHM and can be transliterated as marowm].  That noun is an inflected form of the root word  מָרוֹם [pronounced mah-ROHM and can be transliterated as marowm].  The noun marowm can be translated as “height,” “elevation,” “elevated place,” or “altitude.”  In that regard, marowm can be used literally or figuratively.  When used literally, it can be used to refer to someone or something that is literally elevated.  When used figuratively, it can refer to someone who is haughty—in other words, to someone who is proud.  Unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is whether the use of marowm in this verse is a literal usage or a figurative usage.  If it is a literal usage, then it could be referring to God the Father.  If it is a figurative usage, it would refer to Davidʼs enemies being proud of themselves as they fight against David.  Regardless of how marowm is used in this verse, David is indicating that he is under pressure from his enemies.  

Psalm 56:3

When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.

Psalm 56:4

In 'Elohiym / the Godhead—I praise His Word.  In 'Elohiym / the Godhead I have put my trust.  I do not fear what man / flesh / בָשָׂר / basar [bah-SAHR] can do to me. 

Note:  The Hebrew noun בָשָׂר [pronounced bah-SAHR and can be transliterated as basar] can refer to humans and also to animals.  

Psalm 56:5

All day / Every day, they distort my words.  All their thoughts are against me for evil/calamity/harm/trouble. 

Psalm 56:6

They stir up strife.  They lurk.  They watch my heels/footsteps as they wait for my soul. 

Note:  In this verse, David is indicating that his enemies stir up trouble and also watch him for opportunities to ambush him.  In the context of this verse, the word soul refers to Davidʼs physical life.  In that regard, David is indicating that his enemies wish to kill David.  

Psalm 56:7

Because of wickedness, do they escape?  In anger, put down the peoples, O 'Elohiym/Godhead! 

Note:  The word anger in this verse is an anthropopathism [an-thruh-poh-PATH-iz-uhm].  An anthropopathism is a term that describes the Members of the Trinity using human characteristics in order to help understand the essence of the Trinity.  The Members of the Trinity donʼt literally become angry; the usage of the word anger helps human beings understand the wrath of God the Father.  

Psalm 56:8

You have taken account of my wanderings.  Put my tear in Your bottle / animal-skin container / waterskin—not in Your scroll/book. / not in Your scroll/book?

Note:  In this verse, David indicates awareness of the fact that God the Father is omniscient [ahm-NISH-uhnt] [all-knowing].  Also, the word translated “tear” in this verse is a singular noun rather than a plural noun.  Davidʼs reference to a tear being put into a waterskin in this verse is a metaphorical reference to David wanting God the Father to sympathize with David regarding the oppression that David had been experiencing.  

Regarding the phrase not in Your scroll/book, David might be making a statement or asking a question.  If he is making a statement, unspecified in this verse and the surrounding verses is what David would mean by contrasting putting his tear in some sort of container instead of in a scroll/book.  If David is asking a question, then he would be asking a rhetorical question about whether or not God the Father is aware of the oppression that David had been experiencing.  Because the context of this psalm involves David being confident that God the Father cares about David, if David is using a rhetorical question in this verse, then David would be using that rhetorical question to indicate that David believes that God the Father is indeed aware of the oppression that David had been experiencing.  Regardless of whether David is making a statement or asking a question with the phrase not in Your scroll/book, David indicates in this verse that he recognizes that God the Father is omniscient, and David also asks God the Father to have sympathy for David.  

Psalm 56:9

Then my enemies turn back in the day when I call.  This I have known:  that 'Elohiym / the Godhead is for me.

Psalm 56:10

In 'Elohiym / the Godhead—I praise His Word.  In Jehovah / Yahweh / I am I am / the existing One—I praise His Word.  

Psalm 56:11

In 'Elohiym / the Godhead I have put my trust.  I do not fear what man / mankind / אָדָם / 'adam [ah-DAHM] can do to me. 

Psalm 56:12

Your promises are upon me, O 'Elohiym/Godhead.  I render confessions / thank offerings to You.

Note:  In this verse, the promises are God the Fatherʼs promises.  Also, David is either indicating that he confesses his sins to God the Father or that David gives thank offerings to God the Father.  

Psalm 56:13

Certainly, You have delivered my soul from death—not my feet from stumbling?—to walk before 'Elohiym / the Godhead in the light of the living.

Note:  In order for David to have been delivered by God the Father, David would have had to confess/acknowledge to God the Father all of Davidʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins.  Also, in this verse, the phrase not my feet from stumbling is used in the form of a rhetorical question by means of which David indicates that God the Father has kept David from stumbling.  Unspecified in this verse and the verses that precede it is to what David is specifically referring by means of that phrase.  Certainly, David survived the situation involving the Philistines seizing David when he went to Gath, and that survival was a result of the grace of God because Davidʼs foolish decision to go to Gath on that occasion could have resulted in the physical death of David.  In that regard, God the Father delivered David from death.  While that incident at Gath might be to what David is referring in this verse, David might be referring to another incident or incidents—or both to the incident at Gath and to another incident or incidents.  Regardless of to what David is specifically referring in this verse, David recognizes that his remaining physically alive depended upon God the Father.  In that regard, the phrase to walk before 'Elohiym / the Godhead in the light of the living refers to David continuing to remain physically alive.  Also, the phrase before 'Elohiym / the Godhead is an indication by David that he recognizes that what he does while physically alive is observed by the Members of the Trinity.  

In spite of the enemies that wanted to harm David, David could be confident because He trusted in the Trinity.  While David had made a mistake in going to Gath when fleeing from King Saul, God the Father had graciously delivered David.  By way of application, a believer who is in fellowship with the Trinity can be confident that God the Father will deliver that believer from physical death for as long as God the Fatherʼs plan involves that believer remaining physically alive.  Regarding being in fellowship with the Trinity, once a believer commits a sin after salvation, that believer is out of fellowship with the Trinity and is no longer filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit.  After that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, fellowship with the Trinity and the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit are restored.  After a believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer is then filled with the power of God the Holy Spirit again and in fellowship with the Trinity again.

During the time period described in Psalm 56, empowerment from God the Holy Spirit was available only to a limited number of people and for specific purposes.  That empowerment is known as enduement.  When a believer who had enduement sinned, once that believer confessed that believerʼs sins to God the Father, that believer needed to pray to God the Father for the enduement to be restored.  In contrast, once a believer in the current time period commits a sin after salvation, after that believer has confessed/acknowledged to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, the filling with the power of the Holy Spirit is restored.  

Because believers lack omniscience [ahm-NISH-uhns] [all-knowingness], believers make mistakes.  Sometimes a mistake or mistakes involve an absence of sinning by the believer, and sometimes a mistake or mistakes involve the believer sinning.  When a mistake or mistakes involve a believer sinning, that believer needs to confess/acknowledge to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins.  In that regard, a believer who refrains from confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins is a believer who remains out of fellowship with the Trinity.  Ultimately, if a believer continues to refrain from confessing/acknowledging to God the Father all of that believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins, that believer will experience the sin unto death.  The sin unto death involves an early physical death.  For a believer who physically dies after the Day of Pentecost [PEN-tih-kahst], that early physical death involves an early departure to Heaven.  The Day of Pentecost was the beginning of the Church Age.  The word Pentecost is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντηκοστή [pronounced pen-tay-kah-STAY and transliterated as pentēkostē].  That word is derived from the Koine Greek word πεντήκοντα [pronounced pen-TAY-kahn-tah and transliterated as pentēkonta], which means “fifty.”  Therefore, the word Pentecost is derived from the fact that that day occurred fifty days after the Lord was resurrected.  In that regard, the Church Age began fifty days after the Lord was resurrected.  The Church Age will end with the Rapture.  The Rapture involves both deceased and living believers in the Lord Jesus Christ meeting the Lord in the clouds in the atmosphere of the earth, receiving glorified immortal resurrection bodies similar to the Lord Jesus Christʼs glorified resurrection body, and going to Heaven with those resurrection bodies.  Before the Rapture occurs, deceased believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are in Heaven without glorified bodies.  Absent from the Bible is anything specifically indicating the precise date and time when the Rapture will occur, although it is possible that the Rapture will occur on the day of the Feast of Trumpets / Yom Teruah [yahm tuh-ROO-uh or yohm tuh-ROO-uh]—which is what some people call Rosh Hashanah and which some people celebrate for two days—the next occurrence of which will possibly be during August, September, or October of 2026.  The departure to Heaven of a believer who experiences the sin unto death is an early departure in the sense that it occurs at an earlier time than it would have occurred if the believer had regularly remained in fellowship with the Trinity.  In that regard, if a believer makes a self-endangering sinful mistake like David did in going to Gath, there might be a very small amount of time before the believer will experience the sin unto death.  Therefore, when a believer makes a self-endangering sinful mistake like David did in going to Gath, as soon as that believer realizes that the believer did something sinful, that believer should confess/acknowledge to God the Father that sin and all of that believerʼs other known unconfessed post-salvation sins.  Of course, a believer should always confess/acknowledge to God the Father all of that  believerʼs known unconfessed post-salvation sins as soon as possible after committing the sins.  

Also by way of application, a believer should refrain from making self-endangering sinful mistakes.  In order to refrain from making self-endangering sinful mistakes, a believer needs to learn the Word of God, to apply the Word of God to the circumstances of life so that the believer is able recognize what is sinful, and to be alert for dangers.  With regard to being alert, levels of alertness can be categorized in terms of a mindset color code that involves four colors.  The mindset color code describes states of awareness.  The mindset color code can be utilized for matters outside oneself; for example, the color code can be applied to both physical dangers and also to the dangers of stumbling blocks that can lead a Christian to sin.  Also, the color code can be utilized introspectively with regard to the temptations that can originate from oneʼs old sin nature (OSN).  Every human except the Lord Jesus Christ has acquired an old sin nature, and each humanʼs old sin nature is in the body of that human.  The old sin nature, which is referenced in Ephesians 4:22 with the term old man, can also be referred to as the sin nature.  It is also referenced using the word flesh in Ephesians 2:3 and Galatians 5:16.  The content of Romans 6:6 associates the sin nature with peopleʼs bodies, and the content of Romans 7:17–18 references the sin nature being in peopleʼs bodies.  Adam and Ishshah [ish-SHAW] (the name of Eve before Adam renamed her Eve) were created without old sin natures, and they acquired old sin natures when they sinned.  All other human beings have been conceived.  Only the Lord Jesus Christ was conceived without an old sin nature.  All the other humans that were conceived have been conceived with old sin natures.  Likewise, all humans in the future will be conceived, and the conceiving of each of them will involve each of them receiving an old sin nature at the moment that each of them will be conceived.  Below are the conditions of alertness of the mindset color code and descriptions of them.  

A believer who refrains from being alert when that believer is able to be alert could quickly experience the sin unto death.  Of course, a believer who tries to be alert lacks omniscience; therefore, it is possible that a believer who tries to be alert could end up in a dangerous situation.  In that regard, it is useful for a believer to pray to God the Father that He have God the Holy Spirit enable the believer to recognize dangers.  

Sincerely,

John