Plea While Praising

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Opening Prayer

Lord, awaken the child in me, that I may strew the garment of my well-pressed life in the pathway of King Jesus.

Read Psalm 57

^[1] For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When he had fled from Saul into the cave. Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. ^[2] I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. ^[3] He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me- God sends forth his love and his faithfulness. ^[4] I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts- men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. ^[5] Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. ^[6] They spread a net for my feet- I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path- but they have fallen into it themselves. ^[7] My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. ^[8] Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. ^[9] I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. ^[10] For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. ^[11] Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

Meditate

“This psalm has twin themes: a plea for help and a prayer of praise. They are held together by the psalmist’s confession of faith (7–11)” (Alton H. McEachern, 1932–2009).

Think Further

David was hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed. Saul was seeking

his life and David cried out to God from a cave in which he had hidden. Even though his cry for

help came when his life was in danger, his confidence and trust in God did not waver; “My heart,

O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast” (7). His claim that he takes refuge in God (1) isn’t a

desperate measure because he’s out of options. Rather, it is the natural response of someone who

knows that the God he worships is the God Most High. Neither does David treat God as a servant

who is shut away until he’s needed, for even this cry for help is in the context of praise.

The ancient Israelites did not distinguish between the sacred and the secular; for them the sacred

ran through the whole of everyday life. The culture surrounding many of us is one of self-

sufficiency and although we may assert that God is the only one who can save, we might be

tempted to assign that salvation to spiritual realms and act as if we can deliver ourselves in

everyday life. Not so with David; we can surely identify with his plight where he likens teeth to

spears and arrows and tongues to sharp swords (4), for we know that words can shred a person’s

character.

The metaphorical language of the psalms lends itself to reuse and we can pray these psalms. The

God who delivered David is the same God whom we worship. The psalmist’s eloquence in

expressing both praise and complaint may help us express ourselves more fully than we could by

using our own words. Praying the psalms also keeps our complaint in the context of praise.

David was hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed. Saul was seeking his life and David cried out to God from a cave in which he had hidden. Even though his cry for help came when his life was in danger, his confidence and trust in God did not waver; “My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast” (7). His claim that he takes refuge in God (1) isn’t a
desperate measure because he’s out of options. Rather, it is the natural response of someone who knows that the God he worships is the God Most High. Neither does David treat God as a servant who is shut away until he’s needed, for even this cry for help is in the context of praise. The ancient Israelites did not distinguish between the sacred and the secular; for them the sacred ran through the whole of everyday life. The culture surrounding many of us is one of self-sufficiency and although we may assert that God is the only one who can save, we might be tempted to assign that salvation to spiritual realms and act as if we can deliver ourselves in everyday life. Not so with David; we can surely identify with his plight where he likens teeth to spears and arrows and tongues to sharp swords (4), for we know that words can shred a person’s
character. The metaphorical language of the psalms lends itself to reuse and we can pray these psalms. The God who delivered David is the same God whom we worship. The psalmist’s eloquence in expressing both praise and complaint may help us express ourselves more fully than we could by using our own words. Praying the psalms also keeps our complaint in the context of praise.

Apply

We must resolve to exalt God especially in difficult times. How do you fare praising God when you are down in the dumps? How can this psalm help you?

Closing prayer

“For great is Your love, reaching to the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be over all the earth” (Psa. 57:10,11).

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