Psalms 57:1

_BE 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._ Psalms 57:1.-Cry for mercy; joyful anticipation of deliverance from enemies (Psalms 57:1); praise for it, and for the foes' entanglement in their own pitfall, as if this were already accomplished (Psalms 57:5); Hope predominates from the first. AL-TASCHITH - `destroy not.' This title is found also in the titles of Psalms 58:1; Psalms 59:1; and...

1._Be merciful unto me, O God! _The repetition of the prayer proves that the grief, the anxiety, and the apprehension, with which David was filled at this time, must have been of no common description. It is noticeable, that his plea for mercy is, his having hoped in God. His _soul _trusted in him; and this is a form of expression the force of which is not to be overlooked: for it implies that the trust which he exercised proceeded from his very innermost affections, — that it was of no volatile character, but deeply and strongly rooted. He declares the same truth in figurative terms, when he adds his persuasion that God would cover him with the shadow of his wings. The Hebrew word חסה, _chasah, _which I have translated _to hope, _signifies occasionally _to lodge, _or _obtain shelter, _and in this sense it may be understood with great propriety in the passage before us, where allusion

1-6 All David's dependence is upon God. The most eminent believers need often repeat the publican's prayer, "God be merciful to me a sinner." But if our souls trust in the Lord, this may assure us, in our utmost dangers, that our calamities will at length be overpast, and in the mean time, by faith and prayer, we must make him our refuge. Though God be most high, yet he condescends so low, as to take care that all things are made to work for good to his people. This is a good reason why we should pray earnestly. Look which way we will on this earth, refuge fails, no help appears; but we may look for it from heaven. If we have fled from the wrath to come, unto Jesus Christ, he that performed all things needful to purchase the salvation of his people, will do for us and in us all things needful for our enjoyment of it. It made David droop to think there should be those that bore him so mu...

PSALM LVII _David cries to God for mercy, with the strongest confidence of_ _being heard_, 1-3; _he describes his enemies as lions_, 4; _thanks God for his deliverance_, 5; _and purposes to publish the praises of the Lord among his_ _people_, 6-11. NOTES ON PSALM LVII The _title_ is, _To the chief Musician, Al-taschith_, (destroy not,) _a golden Psalm of David_, (or one to be engraven,) _where he fed_ _from Saul in the cave_. It is very likely that this Psalm was made to commemorate his escape from Saul in the cave of _En-gedi_, where Saul had en

BE MERCIFUL UNTO ME, O GOD - The same beginning as the former psalm - a cry for mercy; an overwhelming sense of trouble and danger leading him to come at once to the throne of God for help. See the notes at Psalms 56:1. FOR MY SOUL TRUSTETH IN THEE - See the notes at Psalms 56:3. He had nowhere else to go; there was no one on whom he could rely but God. YEA, IN THE SHADOW OF THY WINGS WILL I MAKE MY REFUGE - Under the protection or covering of his wings - as young birds seek protection under the wings of the parent bird. See the notes at Psalms 17:8. Compare...

EXPOSITION This psalm—the "twin psalm" with the last—has also an elaborate "title," which runs thus: "To the precentor (or chief musician): destroy not; David's; Michtam; when he fled from Saul; in the cave." The meaning of the second and fourth headings is doubtful Some explain the second as "musical;" others as an allusion to David's words when he bade Abishai not to kill Saul. The last two clauses give the place and occasion of the composition. It was written "in the cave"—probably the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1)—when David was flying from Saul. No valid reason can be urged against these statements. The psalm is divided by its refrain (Psalms 57:5, Psalms 57:11) into two parts, which are further s

BE MERCIFUL UNTO ME, O GOD,.... Or "be gracious to me" k; which words are repeated by him. "Be merciful", or "gracious, unto me"; to show the greatness of his distress, the eagerness, vehemency, and importunity he used in prayer; his case requiring a speedy answer, and immediate relief; and that he expected only from the mercy and grace of God; Psalms 56:1; FOR MY SOUL TRUSTETH IN THEE; or "in thy word"; as the Targum; and in thee only, both as the God of providence and the God of grace; and a great act of faith this was to trust in the Lord in such circumstances; and it was not a bare profession of trust, but it was hearty and sincere; his "soul" trusted in the Lord; he trusted in him with all his heart and soul, and trusted him with his soul or life: and this he makes a reason or argument for mercy; seeing, as the mercy of the Lord is an encouragement to faith and hope; so

1. _Be 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._ The heading of this Psalm «To the chief musician, Aitaschith Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave,» tells us when it was written. It is one of David's « golden Psalms.» What a mixture of feebleness and strength there is in this first verse, the feebleness so beautified by being clothed with the strength of faith! What a turning away from man, and what a turning wholly unto the Lord! And, in coming to the Lord, what humility, and what pleading for mercy, and for mercy only! «Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me.» Yet what holy boldness also! « For my soul trusteth in thee.» And what joyous confidence and what sweet repose in God! «Yea, in the shadow of thy wings, will I make my refuge.» «I...

TRUSTETH (_ See Scofield) - (Psalms 2:12). _...

Psalms 57 Perfect Trust in God _ 1. Sheltered until the trouble is past (Psalms 57:1)_ 2. Deliverance and praise (Psalms 57:6) The inscription is Al-taschith, which means “destroy not”; it is the Michtam of David when he fled from Saul. It shows us once more the exercise of faith in the godly of Israel. In the shadow of His wings they take refuge till these calamities are overpast. They look for intervention from above, from where it will surely come at the close of the days of tribulation. “He shall send from heaven, and save me.” Then they know they will be delivered in anticipation of which the voice of praise is heard. “Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens, let Thy glory cover all the earth.”