57:1ffThis psalm was probably written about David's reflections when he was hiding in a cave from Saul (see 1 Samuel 22-24),
Life Application Study BiblePsalmsChapter 57
Psalm 57
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 903, 904
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57Psalm 57
Author: David
15 For the choir director: A psalm of David, regarding the time he fled from Saul and went intothe cave. To be sung to the tune “Do Not Destroy!”Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!Tlook to you for protection.I will hide beneath the shadow of your wingsuntil the danger passes by.
2I cry out to God Most High,*to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
3He will send help from heaven to rescue me,disgracing those who hound me.My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.41am surrounded by fierce lionswho greedily devour human prey—whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows,and whose tongues cut like swords.
5Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens!May your glory shine over all the earth.
6My enemies have set a trap for me.I am weary from distress.They have dug a deep pit in my path,but they themselves have fallen into it.
7My heart is confident in you, O God;my heart is confident.No wonder I can sing your praises!
8Wake up, my heart!Wake up, O lyre and harp!I will wake the dawn with my song.
9I will thank you, LORD, among all the people.I will sing your praises among the nations.
10For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
11Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.May your glory shine over all the earth.
Theme: A prayer for God’s justice. When no justice can be found, rejoice in knowing that justice will triumph because there is a God who will judge with complete fairness. Author: David, at a time when men in authority were twisting justice
Textual footnotes
- 57:2 Hebrew El-Elyon.
Life Application Notes 4 notes
57:4At times we may be surrounded by people who gossip about us or criticize us. Verbal cruelty can damage us as badly as physica! abuse. Rather than answering with hateful words, we, like David, can talk with God about the problem.
57:7David's firm faith in God contrasted sharply with his enemies’ loud lying and boasting. When confronted with verbal attacks, the best defense is simply to be quiet and praise God, realizing that our confidence is in his love and faithfulness (57:10). In times of suffering, don’t turn inward to self-pity or outward to revenge, but turn upward to God.
57:8David calts out to his soul and his instruments to prepare for praise. Before a new day begins, he wants to “wake the dawn” with his song honoring God's faithfulness. Instead of spending a sleepless night worrying about what he cannot change, he uses those wakeful hours to meditate on an expression suitable for the world. David's example shows us how to turn times of stress into times of blessing by considering God's faithfulness in comparison with our fleeting problems. Why worry when you can invest that time in praise?