Psalms 57

KJV · Chapter 57/150

1Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

2I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

3He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

4My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

5Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.

6They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.

7My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

8Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.

9I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.

10For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.

11Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

David takes refuge in the shadow of God's wings while surrounded by enemies compared to lions, but the psalm turns from plea to triumphant praise: 'awake up, my glory... I myself will awake early.'

Explanation

The title links this psalm to the moment when David hid in a cave fleeing from Saul (1 Samuel 22:1 or 24:1-3), a literal refuge that becomes a spiritual metaphor for God's protection ('in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge'). The image of protective wings reflects both the maternal protection of birds and Egyptian symbolism of winged protective gods, repurposed here to describe Yahweh. The psalm's turn — from extreme fear to a conscious decision to praise ('awake up, my glory') — shows that praise can be an act of the will and not merely a spontaneous feeling, especially in difficult moments.

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