1 <To the chief music-maker; put to Al-tashheth. Michtam. Of David. When he went in flight from Saul, in the hole of the rock.> Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me; for the hope of my soul is in you: I will keep myself safely under the shade of your wings, till these troubles are past.
2 I will send up my cry to the Most High God; to God who does all things for me.
3 He will send from heaven, and take me from the power of him whose desire is for my destruction. God will send out his mercy and his good faith.
4 My soul is among lions; I am stretched out among those who are on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and whose tongue is a sharp sword.
5 O God, be lifted up higher than the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
6 They have made ready a net for my steps; my soul is bent down; they have made a great hole before me, and have gone down into it themselves. (Selah.)
7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will make songs, and give praise.
8 You are my glory; let the instruments of music be awake; I myself will be awake with the dawn.
9 I will give you praise, O Lord, among the peoples; I will make songs to you among the nations.
10 For your mercy is great, stretching up to the heavens, and your righteousness goes up to the clouds.
11 Be lifted up, O God, higher than the heavens, let your glory be over all the earth.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 57
Commentary on Psalms 57 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 57
Ps 57:1-11. Altaschith—or, "Destroy not." This is perhaps an enigmatical allusion to the critical circumstances connected with the history, for which compare 1Sa 22:1; 26:1-3. In Moses' prayer (De 9:26) it is a prominent petition deprecating God's anger against the people. This explanation suits the fifty-eighth and fifty-ninth also. Asaph uses it for the seventy-fifth, in the scope of which there is allusion to some emergency. Michtam—(See on Ps 16:1, title). To an earnest cry for divine aid, the Psalmist adds, as often, the language of praise, in the assured hope of a favorable hearing.
1. my soul—or self, or life, which is threatened.
shadow of thy wings—(Ps 17:8; 36:7).
calamities—literally, "mischiefs" (Ps 52:2; 55:10).
2. performeth—or, completes what He has begun.
3. from … swallow me up—that pants in rage after me (Ps 56:2).
mercy and … truth—(Ps 25:10; 36:5), as messengers (Ps 43:3) sent to deliver him.
4. The mingled figures of wild beasts (Ps 10:9; 17:12) and weapons of war (Ps 11:2) heighten the picture of danger.
whose … tongue—or slanders.
5. This doxology illustrates his view of the connection of his deliverance with God's glory.
6. (Compare Ps 7:15; 9:15, 16).
7. I will … praise—both with voice and instrument.
8. Hence—he addresses his glory, or tongue (Ps 16:9; 30:12), and his psaltery, or lute, and harp.
I myself … early—literally, "I will awaken dawn," poetically expressing his zeal and diligence.
9, 10. As His mercy and truth, so shall His praise, fill the universe.