Psalm 57
The Confidence of the Faithful in God as Their Refuge
The Confidence of the Faithful in God as Their Refuge
Psalm 57. This is a Psalm of David, and titled “Destroy Not”, which indicates that the Psalm has the character of a prayer for preservation. Psalm 57 is also a Michtam Psalm, ‘michtam’ meaning “golden jewel”. There are six Michtam Psalms: 16; 56; 57; 58; 59; 60. These Psalms illustrate the preciousness of the Lord’s people to His heart who trust Him through trial. The inscription of this Psalm indicates that is was written by David “when he fled from Saul in the cave”. Prophetically, this Psalm gives us the expressions and prayers of the remnant when they are fleeing from Antichrist (of whom Saul is a type), and hiding in the caves and mountains surrounding Israel. This Psalm is more triumphant than Psalm 56. Here they look for a full deliverance, and one “from the heavens”. Note that vv.7-11 are repeated in Psalm 108. Perhaps in Psa. 57 these expressions are more anticipatory.
PSALM 57
To the chief Musician. ‘Destroy not.’ Of David. Michtam; when he fled from Saul in the cave.
1 Be gracious unto me, O God, be gracious unto me; for my soul taketh refuge in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings do I take refuge, until the calamities be overpast.
v.1 God Their Refuge. The remnant look to God as their refuge, as those who take refuge under the shadow of His wings until the calamities of the great tribulation are overpast. They rely on the grace of God in all of this.
2 I will call unto God, the Most High; unto GOD that performeth all for me.
3 He will send from the heavens and save me; he hath covered with reproach him that would swallow me up. Selah. God hath sent forth his loving-kindness and his truth.
4 My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down among them that breathe out flames, the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
5 Be exalted above the heavens, O God; let thy glory be above all the earth!
vv.2-5 Confidence in God’s Salvation. The remnant call upon God to send deliverance “from the heavens”. This is an advance over previous expressions. They anticipate deliverance through God’s loving-kindness and truth, from those who reproach them. They are not out of the difficulty yet; they are still in the midst of lions and fire-breathing enemies, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Their prayer is that God will be “exalted above the heavens” and glorified “over all the earth”. How wonderful that their expressions rise above their own deliverance to contemplate the exaltation of God.
6 They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down: they have digged a pit before me; they are fallen into the midst thereof. Selah.
v.6 Deliverance. The faithful speak of the enemy as having prepared traps for the remnant’s feet, and yet God has allowed the enemy to fall in their own trap, through His retributive governmental ways.
7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing, yea, I will sing psalms.
8 Awake, my glory; awake, lute and harp: I will wake the dawn.
9 I will give thee thanks among the peoples, O Lord; of thee will I sing psalms among the nations:
10 For thy loving-kindness is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
vv.7-10 Thanksgiving. Having anticipated their deliverance, the remnant can speak of thanksgiving. Their heart is fixed on God, and the result is singing and music. They speak of praising and giving thanks to the Lord among “the peoples”, which refers to the Gentile nations around. Clearly this looks forward to the Millennium. In this Psalm, the expressions of the remnant rise up to “the heavens”, not only looking for deliverance from the heavens, but seeing the loving-kindness of God great unto the heavens, His truth unto the clouds, etc.
11 Be exalted above the heavens, O God; let thy glory be above all the earth!
v.11 God Exalted. The Psalm concludes with the remnant’s desire that God might be exalted above the heavens, and that His glory might shine over all the earth.