INTRODUCTION - Read Psalm 57
Saul was still king of Israel and David had been one of his favoured servants and later a soldier in his army. But as David's fame increased, so did Saul's jealousy, and as we found David in the last Psalm 56, David had run away and was still sheltered in a cave.
But this Psalm 57 was a little different from the previous one; for David was now on his knees, looking up to God, instead of within. He had made mistakes - by lying to a priest and pretending to be insane - but now he was seeking God's grace and protection, a God who would `shelter him under his wings'.
"Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed." Psalm 57:1 (NIV)
He is now surrounded in the cave by men who were also running away, for Jerusalem was not a great place to be at that time. They are `malcontents' a thoughtless group of people, so overwhelmed with their own needs, in emotional despair; just as David was. But `surrounded by these lions', inside and out the cave, David wants to find a way out. So, David remembers his answers from the past, as a young Shepherd boy; with his harp and lyre, he begins to glorify and praise God.
"Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be overall the earth." Psalm 57:5 (NIV)
PRAYER AND PRAISE is the language of TRUST, and this psalm is written in this language. David `saw beyond the cave to the Lord'. (S.J Cole, 1993). David knew that God was bigger than the situation he faced and any emotional despair he felt. By relying on God and fixing his heart on praise, even though surrounded by his enemies, David knew, he could find his way out of his cave.
David also knew that praise was a great witness to the other people in the cave with him, and he wanted them to know of God's lovingkindness and faithfulness too.
"For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies."
Psalm 57:10 (NIV)
Are you sheltered in a cave - in the depths of depression, overwhelmed by guilt, surrounded by adversaries - do you need a refuge, someone in whom YOU CAN TRUST ; 'well, you can come, BEYOND THE CAVE', through PRAYER AND PRAISE, like David, for the loving and faithful LORD IS WAITING FOR YOU!
REFUGE IN THE SHADOW OF HIS WINGS - Read Verses 1-5
"In thee my soul takes refuge in the shadow of Thy wings" (RSV) reminds us of the great image of `an eagle and her eaglets', (Alexander McLaren). God is great, yet He cares for His young children, if we will take refuge in His care.
Another instance in which this figure is used was by David's ancestor Ruth. God took care of her as she took refuge in a foreign country with her mother in law Naomi.
"May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge." Ruth 2:12 (NIV)
But even with this great image and the hope it gave him, David still fought off fear - `the lions' . Some theologians see these as Saul and his army, `their teeth - the spears and their tongues - a sharp sword". (A. McLaren). He saw Saul and his men like "wild animals who wanted to eat him". (G. Churchyard, 2001). Others believe he is talking about the men in the cave with him.
"I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts - men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords." Psalm 57:4 (NIV)
Whoever he is referring to, 'David is hurting enough to admit that he is in need. He is honest enough to cry for help, and he is humble enough to learn from God," (Charles R Swindoll, 1997)
He knows that by only fixing his eyes on God and His power he can have deliverence, and this is the only way WE CAN HAVE DELIVERANCE TOO!
REFUGE IN GOD'S UNFAILING LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS - Read Verses 6-11,
1 Samuel 24:5-6
A number of theologians believe this psalm was written after Saul had been in the cave `to relieve himself'. David's men had been hiding further back in the cave, and, Saul's eyes, dull from the desert sun, did not see them. But they saw him and thought it was a good chance to kill him, but David signals for his men to hold back. He edges along the wall and cuts of a piece of Saul's robe, then creeps back into the cave. David couldn't believe what he had done, but he wanted to prove something to Saul.
He exited the cave after Saul, lifted the piece of garment and shouted: "I could of killed you, but I didn't". Saul looks up, stunned. David wanted Saul and men to see that he was a man of integrity, but more than that, he wanted them to see that GOD WAS IN CONTROL; and it was in HIS TIME, not David's that He would `take care of his enemies'. Standing before Saul was David's way of showing that He truly trusted God's plans. (Max Lucado, 2006)
With a heart empty of vengeance of full of grace, David was now able to get his harp and psaltery and begin his praises. He begins by thanking God for watching over him and protecting him. David was singing in the cave, glorifying God for His unfailing love and faithfulness, "his never ending care and nurturing love". (S.J. Cole, 1993). David knew that one day he would be king, but it would be in God's timing; meanwhile he would fix his heart on praise.
Sometimes we need to set our hearts on praise, even when we don't feel like it, for it can often be the only way we can keep our eyes focused on God.
CONCLUSION - Read Verses 5&11
What does it mean to glorify God? The Hebrew word `kakod' refers to God's `instrinsic worth and honour' - simply WHO HE IS, not just what He has done. God is glorified when we praise him through our trials, even when things are not going the way we plan - because that is showing that we truly TRUST HIM!
God's Word, New International Version (2011), Biblica
Revised Standard Version (2012), British & Foreign Bible Society
Churchyard. Gordon (2001) "Danger!" - Psalm 57", www, easyenglish,bible.
Cole. Steven. J (1993) "Psalm 57: Singing in the Cave", Bible, Org
Lucado, Max (2006) `Facing your Giants', Thomas Nelson.
McLaren, Alexander, `The Life of David, as Reflected in the Psalms',
Swindoll, Charles R, (1997) `David, a Man of Passion & Destiny', Thomas Nelson
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