Psalms 57:1

Be merciful unto me Be gracious unto me, as in Psalms 56:1.

for my soul&c. Render:

For in thee hath my soul taken refuge,

And in the shadow of thy wings will I take refuge,

Until destruction's storm be overpast.

The distinction of tenses is significant. He has placed himself under Jehovah's protection, and in his present distress claims his rights as Jehovah's client. The shadow of thy wingsis a beautiful metaphor from the care of the mother-bird for her young. When danger threatens, they run to her for shelter. Cp. Psalms 17:8; Psalms 36:7; Psalms 61:4; Psalms 63:7; Psalms 91:4; Ruth 2:12; Matthew 23:37.

Calamitiesis the same word as that rendered mischiefsin Psalms 52:2, wickednessin Psalms 55:11 (see notes), and the verb suggests the metaphor of a storm. Cp. Isaiah 26:20.