Psalm 57

1. David ran from King Saul for quite a while, and this psalm was written at a time when it seemed as though David could have been killed. He was in a cave and hiding from the king. From this set of circumstances, David wrote a psalm of lament that still shows his trust in God.

2. Verse 1 is very beautiful when one reflects on the historical circumstance. While David is “taking refuge” in a cave, he knows that God is, in reality, the only refuge one needs.

3. In verse 2, David says that he is going to God, because God can do all things. (The NASB says, “accomplish all things.”)

4. Verse 3 shows us that David knows he is in a difficult circumstance, but that his trust is still in God. He writes with total assurance that God will act.

5. As he has done many times in the Psalms already, David paints a graphic picture of his enemies for us in verse 4. He compares them to lions, a dragon (they breathe fire), and then he says that their teeth are spears and arrows and their tongues are a sword. To put it mildly, David knew how awful and powerful these enemies were.

6. Verse 6 tells us that David feels as though he is being hunted and, maybe, about to be caught in a trap.

7. Even still, David remains “steadfast” (verse 7). No matter how close he comes to being caught, David will still be “with” the Lord. When I face difficulty, is that my reaction? Do I come closer to God, or do I wonder why such things happen?

8. The final verses (8-11) are written as though David has already been delivered from his difficulty. While he knows there is a chance that he might be captured (or worse), his trust is such that he can write from the perspective of already being released. What great confidence!