Psalms 57

Psalms 57:1

Psalm 57: In the Shadow of His Wings David was hiding from Saul in a cave when he wrote this Psalmeither the cave of Adullam or the one at Engedi. There are two ever-present realities before himthe gracious God and the formidable foe. The Psalm see-saws between the two, but faith in the former is greater than fear of the latter and tilts the see-saw in that direction. The Ever-Present God (57:1-3)The psalmist does not demand deliverance, as if he had a right to expect it. He asks it as a mercy from God, an undeserved blessing stemming from His kindness. Oblivious of his dank, dark surroundings, he reckons himself as sheltered in the shadow of God’s wings, like a chicken snuggled under the wings of the mother hen. And there he will stay until the storms of life have passed by. From this privileged place of conscious nearness, he cries to God Most High with the confidence that no one and nothing can hinder Him from accomplishing His purposes in the lives of His people. When the answer comes from heaven, it will mean deliverance for the trusting heart and dishonor for those who walk all over him. It will be an unforgettable demonstration of God’s love and dependability. The Ever-Present Enemy (57:4)The enemies are formidablelike savage, fiery lions that tear and devour; these sons of men have teeth like spears and arrows, and tongues like sharp swords. Yet David lies down to rest in the middle of such dangera truly remarkable feat of faith. The Ever-Present God (57:5)In a refrain that is repeated in verse 11, David longs to see God’s glory manifested in the crushing of His foes and the vindication of His cause. Nothing will do but that His glory be astral and global in its dimensions. The Ever-Present Enemy (57:6)The adversaries laid careful plans to trap the son of Jesse: his soul was bent over with heaviness. Yes, they had dug a pit to trap him, but they themselves fell into it. The Ever-Present God (57:7-11)No wonder the psalmist’s heart is steadfastly determined to sing with melody to the Lord. No wonder he rouses his soul, and dusts off the lute and harp. No wonder he is determined to greet the dawn with songs of praise. Nor will it be a private, provincial songfest. He will thank the Lord among the peoples, and sing psalms among the nations, because God’s mercy is as infinite as the heavens and His truth as limitless as the clouds. F. B. Meyer notes that just as David “rose above personal grief in a desire for God’s glory” so we should subordinate our own petty griefs in a great passion to see Him exalted.