Awake, my soul! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. Psalm 57:8
A Prayer for Rescue from Persecutors
David is confident in God’s faithfulness, even when he is forced to hide from King Saul (1 Sam. 22, 24). David triumphantly praises God for deliverance from Saul (cf. 1 Sam. 22-24), thrilled that God “sends His love and His faithfulness.”
Psalm 57 is another of David’s poems in which the title gives the specific setting of the psalm. The narrative of David’s life indicates that he twice hid in caves – once in Adullam (1 Sam. 22:1-5) which was the setting of Ps. 142, and once in Engedi (1 Sam. 24:1-7),the setting of this poem. In En Gedi, David spared Saul’s life even though Saul had become an easy target. While pursuing David, the king had entered a cave to relieve himself. It so happened that he chose the very cave in which David was hiding. Rather than killing Saul while he had the chance, David cut off a piece of the king’s garment. David later repented even of that act against Saul.
57:1-3 Here the psalmist vows that he will pray only to his God, for God alone can deliver him from trouble.
1 To the Chief Musician. Set to ‘Do Not Destroy.’ A Michtam of David when he fled from Saul into the cave. Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. 2 I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me. 3 He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.
57:4-6 The psalmist’s foes are like lions prowling about for prey. They have prepared a net: The psalmist is like a bird that is easily caught; yet by God’s mercy, his enemies will fall into their own pit.
4 My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth. 6 They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah
57:7 Near the end of his life, Paul was able to say that he had kept the faith (2 Tim. 4:7). With the words my heart is steadfast, David is assuring God of much the same thing; he has remained faithful to the God who has provided for him from the beginning.
7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise.
57:9, 10 I will praise You: As is common in the Psalms, the conclusion is a vow to praise the Lord. Such praise would be centered on the Lord’s saving acts.
9 I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. 10 For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds.
** David’s praise is not a mindless chanting. His praise is filled with a sense of relief, awe and joy. While still in trouble, he knew and expected that God would deliver him. He had experienced it many times already. That’s why he was able to give praise in advance.
A Prayer for Rescue from Persecutors
57 1 To the Chief Musician. Set to ‘Do Not Destroy.’ A Michtam of David when he fled from Saul into the cave. Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. 2 I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me. 3 He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah God shall send forth His mercy and His truth. 4 My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men Who are set on fire, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth. 6 They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise. 8 Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. 9 I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. 10 For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.
