PSALM 57 - BE EXALTED O GOD!

PSALM 57
LET YOUR GLORY BE OVER ALL THE EARTH

The instructions to this psalm give us the occasion for its writing. It was written about David’s fleeing from Saul in the cave.



There are two possible stories in 1 Samuel that may be the basis for this psalm. The first is in 1 Samuel 22, where David escaped from the Philistines after going there to seek asylum from Saul.



The second is in 1 Samuel 24. Saul had abandoned his pursuit of David to fight the Philistines.  When that was over, he returned to the wilderness to seek David. He went into a cave to use the bathroom, not knowing that David and his men were hiding deep in the cave.

David refused to kill Saul, though his men urged it, but cut off a piece of his robe. After Saul left the cave, David yelled down to him, showed him the piece of his robe, and said it proved he was not a threat to Saul.

Saul acknowledged David’s righteousness and his right to become king. Saul returned to Jerusalem and left David alone for a while.

Given the victorious nature of this Psalm, even though it is a lament, the second story seems to be a fitting background to the Psalm.

This psalm is structured in two stanzas with a refrain at the end of each.

57:1-5
Stanza 1: The Cry For Mercy

David cried out to God for mercy. He placed himself in God’s care. He said his soul took refuge in God. He was hiding in a cave, but did not see the cave as his refuge. Only God could be that for him.

He used a metaphor of a baby bird being sheltered under the wings of a mother bird. David wanted to stay in the shelter of the Lord’s protection until the storms of his life had passed, meaning Saul’s attacks on him.



David sought mercy and refuge from God because he knew God’s character and attributes.

First, God is “God Most High” or “El Elyon”. This name expresses God’s exaltedness. For example, When Abraham returned from battle and met Melchizedek, Melchizedek referred to God as the creator of heaven and earth and the Most High. (Genesis 14) Since God created the heavens and the earth, he is above them and in control of them.

God declared that there is no one beside him. (Deuteronomy 32:39) There is no one who can claim to be who he is. Therefore, we are commanded to have no gods before him. (Exodus 20:3)

Since God is the Most High, the One who is over all, David can appeal to him for shelter even from the king of Israel.

David also acknowledged that God fulfills his purposes. God expressed his purpose to make David king. No one can prevent that because God will not allow anyone to thwart his purposes. Daniel 4:35 expresses this clearly: “he [God] does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him ‘What have you done’?” And those words were spoke by one who thought himself to be as a god on earth, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylonia.

David also acknowledged God as having steadfast love and faithfulness. (3) These are attributes of God that God himself declared to Moses in Exodus 34:6. In that passage, the Lord passed before Moses and proclaimed “the LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…”.

David trusted God to be faithful and to have steadfast love for him because that is who God is. That is God’s nature.

That is why we study the attributes of God as revealed in the Bible, so that we will know who he is and trust him because of his nature as God.

David did not forget his troubles, even though he trusted in God. He saw himself as surrounded by wild and fierce animals. (4) He experienced people whose words hurt him.

This stanza ends with the refrain: Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth. (5) This is a prayer by David that all people will recognize and acknowledge God’s exaltedness.

It reminds us of Jesus’ prayer: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-19)

It is also part of the reason for the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations, so Christ’s glory will be known over all the earth. (Matthew 28:19)

Habakkuk 2:14 tells us “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of he glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”

57:6-11
The Cry of Confidence

Although David is in a difficult and scary place, his confidence in God is solid. He declared that is heart is steadfast. (7) He does not waver in his faith in God. He will even sing, presumably in praise to God. (7) He will get up first thing in the morning and praise God with instruments. This might remind us of the Fanny Crosby hymn “Praise Him! Praise Him!” which says:
“Praise him! praise him! tell of his excellent greatness!
Praise him! praise him! ever in joyful song!”

And the reason to praise him is:
“Like a shepherd Jesus will guard his children --
In his arms he carries them all day long.”

Ms. Crosby’s thoughts are not much different than David’s. Both recognize God’s care of us and his exaltedness.

David’s praises are again rooted in God’s attributes, his steadfast love and his faithfulness. (10)

This second stanza ends with the same refrain:
“Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!

This prayer makes me think my prayers are often not big enough. While it is fine to pray for our needs and the needs of others, we should pray this prayer for God’s kingdom to come over all the earth so that all will see and know his glory. David prayed this way. Jesus prayed this way.

So should we.