GLEANINGS IN THE PSALMS

(Psalm 57)

Title. “… of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.” This is a song from the bowels of the earth and, like Jonah's prayer from the bottom of the sea, it has a taste of the place. The poet is in the shadow of the cave at first, but he comes to the cavern's mouth at last, and sings in the sweet fresh air, with his eye on the heavens, watching joyously the clouds floating thereon.

C. H. S.

Verse 1. “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me …” According to the weight of the burden that grieveth us, is the cry that comes from us. David, in the day of his calamities doubles his prayer for mercy: “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me.” His spirit being up in prayer, like a bell that rings out, he strikes on both sides – “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me.”

Joseph Caryl

Verse 1. “… until these calamities be overpast.” He compares his calamity and affliction to a storm that cometh and goeth; as it is not always fair weather for us in this life, so it is not always foul. Athanasius said of Julian who was furiously raging against the Lord's Anointed, “He is a little cloud, he will soon pass away.” “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” If we put our trust in him, and cast all our care upon him, He will, in His good time, bring it to pass, that all our afflictions shall overpass. He will take them from us, or we from them. And then we shall know assuredly that the troubles of this present life are not worthy of the glory which in the life to come shall be shown unto us.

John Boys

Verse 2. “I will cry unto God … unto God that performeth all things for me.” As he says in the 138th psalm, “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.” David's whole trust was in the Lord who would bring all things relating to him to pass in His own good time. In this cave, he had Saul at his mercy, as he had him on another occasion, but he would not lift up his hand against the Lord's anointed. If the throne of Israel was to be his, then it would be his through what the Lord would “perform” and “prefect” on his behalf. Blessed resignation to the will of God.

Verse 3. “… him that would swallow me up …” If I were to take you to my house, and say that I had an exquisitely fat man, and wished you to join me in eating him, your indignation could be restrained by nothing. You would pronounce me to be crazy. Yet that is only feasting on the human body. But, many will sit down and take a man's soul, and look for the tender loins, and invite their neighbours in to partake of the little titbits. They will take a mans honour and name, and broil them over the coals of their indignation, and fill the whole room with the aroma thereof, and give their neighbour a piece, and watch him, and wink as he tastes it. They are cannibals, eating men's honour and name and rejoicing in it ….

Henry Ward Beecher

Verse 4. “My soul is among lions …” How did it come there? If it was for the Lord's sake, then I may remember six things:     1.     So was my Lord in the wilderness with the wild beasts.
    2.     The lions are chained.
    3.     Their howling is all they can do.
    4.     I shall come out of their den alive, unhurt and honoured.
    5.     The Lion of Judah is with me.
    6.     I shall soon be among the angels.

Hints to the Village Preacher

Verse 7. “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed …” It is implied that the “heart” is the main thing required in all acts of devotions; nothing is done to purpose in religion further than is done with the heart. The heart must be “fixed;” fixed for the duty – fitted and put in a right frame to perform it. Fixed in the duty by a close application – attending on the Lord without distraction.

Matthew Henry

Verse 8. “Awake up my glory … I myself will awake early.” I will sleep lightly, for I am in an enemy's country; I will ask God to arouse me; I will set the alarm of watchfulness; I will hear the cock of providential warning; the light of the Sun shall arouse me; the activities of the church, the trumpet of my foes, and the bell of duty shall combine to awaken me.

Hits to the Village Preacher

Verse 9. “I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people …” Gentiles shall hear my praise. Here is an instance of the way in which the truly devout evangelical spirit overleaps the boundaries which bigotry sets up. The ordinary Jew would never wish the Gentile dogs to hear Jehovah's name, but this grace-taught Psalmist has a missionary spirit – “among the people.”

C.H.S.