Psalms 57:5

_BE THOU EXALTED, O GOD, ABOVE THE HEAVENS; LET THY GLORY BE ABOVE ALL THE EARTH._ Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth - praise for the deliverance anticipated, in the strong assurance of faith. Let men see (not merely a prayer, but a prophecy, that men shall see it, and therefore shall praise God) and declare that thou art raised above the heavens, and therefore art far above all the puny powers of the earth that oppose thee and thy people. In Psalms 57:9 God's mercy and truth are "praised" among the people of the earth, and are represented as reaching "unto the heavens:" here God and His glory are declared to be lifted above both the heavens unit the earth....

To him we find David appealing in the words that follow, _Exalt thyself, O God! above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth. _To perceive the appropriateness of this prayer, it is necessary that we reflect upon the height of audacity and pride to which the wicked proceed, when unrestrained by the providence of God, and upon the formidable nature of that conspiracy which was directed against David by Saul, and the nation in general, all which demanded a signal manifestation of divine power on his behalf. Nor is it a small comfort to consider that God, in appearing for the help of his people, at the same time advances his own glory. Against it, as well as against them, is the opposition of the wicked directed, and he will never suffer his glory to be obscured, or his holy name to be polluted with their blasphemies. The Psalmist reverts to the language of complaint. He had spoke...

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...

Verse Psalms 57:5. _BE THOU EXALTED, O GOD, ABOVE THE HEAVENS_] Let the glory of thy mercy and truth be seen in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath. Several of the fathers apply what is said above to the _passion_ of our Lord, and what is said here to his _resurrection_....

BE THOU EXALTED, O GOD, ABOVE THE HEAVENS - Compare Psalms 8:1. The language here is that of a man who in trouble lifts his thoughts to God; who feels that God reigns; who is assured in his own soul that all things are under his hand; and who is desirous that God should be magnified whatever may become of himself. His prime and leading wish is not for himself, for his own safety, for his own deliverance from danger; it is that “God” may be honored - that the name of God may be glorified - that God may be regarded as supreme over all things - that God may be exalted in the highest possible degree - an idea expressed in the prayer that he may be exalted “above the heavens.” LET THY GLORY BE ABOVE ALL THE EARTH - The honor of thy name; thy praise. Let it be regarded, and be in fact, “above” all that pertains to this lower world

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 THOU EXALTED, O GOD, ABOVE THE HEAVENS,.... That is, show thyself to be God, that sittest in the heavens, and art higher than they, by saving me, and disappointing mine enemies; that I, and those that are with me, may magnify the Lord and exalt his name together. The Targum is, "be thou exalted above the angels of heaven, O God;'' [LET] THY GLORY [BE] ABOVE ALL THE EARTH; that is, above all the inhabitants of the earth, as the Chaldee paraphrase: let the glory of God in my deliverance be seen by all that dwell upon the earth; for by how much the lower and more distressed his case and condition were, by so much the more would the glory of God be displayed in bringing him out of it. Nothing lies nearer the hearts of the people of God than his glory; this is more desirable than their own salvation: David breathes after the one, when he says nothing of the other, that being uppermost; t...

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...

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.”

LVII. HERE TWO PSS. ARE UNITED: A containing Psalms 57:1, B, Psalms 57:7. PSALMS 57:1. The Ps. is closely allied to the preceding, also a michtam Ps. (p. 373). The author flees to God's protection against his foes and is confident in his own safety and their overthrow. PSALMS 57:1. WILL I TAKE REFUGE: read, I will hide. Psalms 57:2. performeth all things for me: read, will requite me. Psalms 57:3. save me. reproacheth: read, pe