Psalm 57 - The Contemplative Bible Meditation Series
In the heart of this Psalm, David's prayer rises like incense from a place of darkness and fear. He hides in a cave, pursued by Saul, and yet his words are not merely of fear or despair—they are of deep trust, of an unwavering faith that shines even in the depths of calamity. In our modern world, where we, too, face our own caves—of anxiety, uncertainty, and suffering—Psalm 57 offers us a refuge and a powerful reminder of God's mercy and faithfulness. Through each verse, we can explore how this ancient text invites us to rest, trust, and find comfort in a higher power that never fails.
Transcript
Psalm 57 In the heart of this psalm,
David's prayer rises like incense from a place of darkness and fear.
He hides in a cave pursued by Saul and yet his words are not merely of fear or despair.
They are of deep trust,
Of an unwavering faith that shines even in the depths of calamity.
In our modern world where we too face our own caves of anxiety,
Uncertainty and suffering,
Psalm 57 offers us a refuge and a powerful reminder of God's mercy and faithfulness.
Through each verse,
We can explore how this ancient text invites us to rest,
Trust and find comfort in a higher power that never fails.
Let us journey through this psalm slowly and carefully,
Reflecting on each verse as it speaks to us today.
Psalm 57 Be merciful to me,
O God,
Be merciful to me,
For my soul trusts in you,
And in the shadow of your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.
I will cry out to God Most High,
To God who performs all things for me.
He shall send from heaven and save me.
He reproaches the one who would swallow me up,
Selah.
God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.
My soul is among lions,
I lie among the sons of men,
Who are set on fire,
Whose teeth are spears and swords,
And their tongue a sharp sword.
Be exalted,
O God,
Above the heavens.
Let your glory be above all earth.
They have prepared a net for my steps,
My soul is bowed down.
They have dug a pit before me.
Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen,
Selah.
My heart is steadfast,
O God,
My heart is steadfast.
I will sing and give praise.
Awake my glory,
Awake lute and harp.
I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you,
O Lord,
Among the peoples.
I will sing to you among the nations.
For your mercy reaches out unto the heavens and your truth unto the clouds.
Be exalted,
O God,
Above the heavens.
Let your glory be above all the earth.
Be merciful to me,
O God,
Be merciful to me,
For my soul trusts in you,
And in the shadow of your wings I make my refuge until these calamities have passed by.
David's cry for mercy echoes our own when we find ourselves overwhelmed by life's storms.
How often do we plead be merciful to me when the weight of the world feels too much to bear.
In this moment,
The Psalmist shows us a profound truth.
Even in distress,
His soul trusts in God.
The image of the shadow of your wings calls to mind the tender protection of a bird sheltering its young.
It is a place of intimate refuge where we are safe from the dangers outside.
Reflect on this.
When life presses in with calamity,
Where do you find your refuge?
Imagine yourself resting in the shadow of divine wings where all fear subsides,
Where you are held and protected until the storm passes.
I will cry out to God Most High,
To God who performs all things for me.
Here David not only cries out,
But cries to God Most High,
Acknowledging that he turns to the One above all,
The One whose authority surpasses any earthly power.
This is a reminder for us to look beyond our immediate circumstances and trust in a power greater than ourselves.
God who performs all things for me tells us that God is not distant or inactive.
He is working,
Even in ways we cannot see,
Shaping events for our good.
Consider the situations in your life where you need to let go of control.
Can you trust that God is working in all things even when they appear chaotic?
Verse 3 He shall send from heaven and save me.
He reproaches the one who would swallow me up.
God shall send forth His mercy and truth.
This verse is filled with hope.
David declares with confidence that God will intervene,
Sending salvation from heaven.
It is a promise of divine deliverance that extends beyond time and space.
Mercy and truth are like twin pillars that uphold David's faith.
In your own life,
Consider where you need God's mercy and truth to break through.
Where do you feel surrounded as though life is closing in?
Take a moment to breathe in the promise of this verse.
God will send from heaven.
You are not abandoned.
His mercy reaches down to where you are and His truth will guide you out of the darkness.
Verse 4 My soul is among lions.
I lie among the sons of men who are set on fire,
Whose teeth are spears and arrows and their tongue a sharp sword.
David's imagery is vivid and intense.
He is surrounded by danger,
Lions,
Men whose words and actions are like spears and arrows.
How often do we feel the same?
Surrounded by conflict,
Judgment or harshness from others,
The sharp sword of the tongue can wound deeply and many of us have felt the sting of cruel words.
In this verse,
David does not pretend that his life is without pain or enemies but he acknowledges his reality while still maintaining his trust in God.
The lions may roar but they will not have the final say.
Verse 5 Be exalted,
O God,
Above the heavens.
Let your glory be above all the earth.
In the midst of his troubles,
David's focus shifts.
He lifts his eyes from his circumstances and exalts God.
This is a profound act of faith to praise God even when all is not well.
By exalting God,
David affirms that God's glory is not diminished by his trials.
It remains above the heavens,
Far beyond the reach of any earthly problem.
In your own life,
Where can you shift your focus from the problem to God's greater glory?
What happens when you choose to praise even when life is hard?
Verse 6 They have prepared a net for my steps.
My soul is bowed down.
They have dug a pit before me.
Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen.
Selah David speaks of traps laid for him.
Yet,
He also trusts divine justice.
The very pit his enemies dig for him becomes their own undoing.
This is a reminder that God sees all and is just.
When we feel like life is conspiring against us,
We can remember that God's justice prevails,
Often in unexpected ways.
Verse 7 My heart is steadfast,
O God,
My heart is steadfast.
I will sing and give praise.
David repeats this affirmation.
His heart is steadfast.
This is a declaration of unshakable faith,
Even in the storm.
He commits to singing and praising God no matter the circumstance.
This verse invites us to cultivate a heart that remains steady in the face of adversity.
Can you sing through your trials?
Can you praise through the pain?
Verse 8 Awake,
My glory!
Awake,
Lute and harp!
I will awaken the dawn.
David calls for an awakening,
A rising up of his soul,
His spirit,
And his music.
He will awaken the dawn with his praise.
This is a call to active faith,
To awaken ourselves from the slumber of despair or passivity.
Sometimes we need to stir ourselves to rise and praise even when it feels hard,
Especially when it feels hard.
Verse 9 I will praise you,
O Lord,
Among the peoples.
I will sing to you among the nations.
David's praise extends beyond himself.
He wants the world to know the goodness of God.
His personal trust and deliverance are the testimony to others.
Our own lives can be the same,
A witness to those around us of God's faithfulness.
Verse 10 For your mercy reaches unto the heavens and your truth unto the clouds.
God's mercy and truth are limitless.
They stretch far beyond our understanding,
Reaching unto the heavens.
When we feel our own limitations,
We can trust that God's mercy and truth are always greater,
Always enough.
Verse 11 Be exalted,
O God,
Above the heavens.
Let your glory be above all the earth.
The psalm ends with the same exaltation.
In this,
We find our purpose to glorify God above all else.
When we make God's glory our focus,
The cares of this world grow small in comparison.
A Prayer O God Most High,
In the shadow of your wings I find refuge.
Though calamities surround me,
My heart is steadfast.
I trust in your mercy that reaches to the heavens and in your truth that never fails.
Awaken my soul to praise you even in the darkest hour.
May I rest in the knowledge that you are working all things for my good and that your glory will shine above the earth.
In peace I lay my burdens at your feet and in trust I walk forward into your light.
Amen
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Recent Reviews
Gail
January 7, 2025
This was just what I needed. I will be listening to your other Psalm meditations. Thank you.
Michelle
December 3, 2024
Thank for leading us through His message of mercy and truth 🙏🕊️🕯️🕊️🙏
Betsie
October 1, 2024
Yes! May we trust the Almighty especially when things are difficult🙏