This is one of my favorite psalms, because it is such a great example to illustrate the way a songwriter views the psalms, classifying them according to song structure.
This psalm is an example of a psalm whose song structure is ABA.
A section (1): I will not fear what FLESH can do to me...
A section (2): I will not fear what MAN can do to me...
B section: ...because I trust in God's word.
David was a tough fighter. Indeed, he was a violent man. A valiant defender, he fought both man and beast. Before his encounter with Goliath, he had killed both a lion and a bear, who attacked his sheep. Here in Psalm 56, he classifies his human enemies in a type-class with his beastly opponents, as carnivorous predators (a sentiment which might not be an over-the-top metaphor in the case of Goliath, who was possibly cannibalistic).
In this psalm, David relates the twists and turns of verbal sparring-matches with his political adversaries to the violent twists and turns of mortal combat - a violent activity, in which a formidable adversary can make moves which are unexpected. Here he offers insight into his thinking, as he reacts to each adversary:
Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts [are] against me for evil....(but) when I cry [unto thee], then shall mine enemies turn back: This I know; for God [is] for me. In God will I praise [his] word: in the LORD will I praise [his] word.
Psalm 56:6,9,10 (italics mine).
David says, "These guys have planned some truly evil strategems, but Elohim is for me. In both Elohim and Jehovah (the Redeemer) I shall praise his word, because it is redemptive, so it saves me, and HIS word is far more valiant than mine, for it is un-twistable. In fact, his word does my adversaries a few reverse-twists!"
Trust in his word - not your own.
Good advice.
You find quite a few psalms with this ABA structure, once you know to look for it.
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