Heading (Psalms 57:1 a).
‘For the Chief Musician; set to Al-tashheth. A Psalm of David. Michtam; when he fled from Saul, in the cave.'
This is one of many Psalms dedicated to the Choirmaster or Chief Musician. It may simply indicate Psalms put at his disposal. It is set to the tune Al-tashheth (‘Do not destroy'), and is one of the ‘Psalms of David'. Michtam is probably to be seen as a plea for protection Its provenance is said to be ‘when he fled from Saul in the cave', which probably refers to his exploits in the wilderness of Engedi, near the Dead Sea, rather than to his time in the Cave of Adullam. There is nothing in the Psalm which excludes Davidic authorship.
It commences in the same way as the previous Psalm and in the same way speaks of those who would ‘swallow him up' (Psalms 57:3). It continues the theme of God's protection from his enemies, and from those who speak against him (Psalms 57:4), forecasting the downfall of his enemies (Psalms 57:6). There is thus some relationship between the two Psalms.
The Psalm can be divided into three parts:
· A Call For God's Favour And Protection In The Face Of His Enemies (Psalms 57:1-3).
· A Description Of His Enemies And Their Fate (Psalms 57:4-6).
· An Expression Of Praise And Thanksgiving For God's Intervention On His Behalf (Psalms 57:7-11).
A Call For God's Favour And Protection In The Face Of His Enemies (Psalms 57:1-3).
He calls for God's favour to be shown towards him because he has taken refuge under the shadow of His wings until all danger is past, and because he looks to Him to save him from the reproaches of his enemy.
‘Show favour to me, O God, show favour to me,
For my person takes refuge in you,
Yes, in the shadow of your wings will I take refuge,
Until these calamities are overpast.'
He twice calls on God to show him favour in the midst of his calamities, confident that at some stage they will pass, as they must do in the face of God's promises to him. He reminds Him that at His word he has taken refuge in him, and that he will continue to take refuge under the shadow of His wings. God has called him and he looks to Him to protect him. The picture is of nestlings sheltering under the wings of the mother bird, secure from all that is happening around including storms and tempests, not emerging until all is safe. It was a favourite illustration of David, see Psalms 17:8; Psalms 36:7; Psalms 61:4; Psalms 63:7. Compare also Psalms 91:4; Ruth 2:12; Matthew 23:37.
‘I will cry to God Most High,
To God who performs all things for me.
He will send from heaven, and save me,
When he who would swallow me up reproaches. [Selah
God will send forth his covenant love and his truth.'
He declares that his cry is to God Most High (Elohim Elyon), the God Who is above all things, and Whom he knows will perform all things that are necessary for him. He is confident that God will send from heaven and deliver him from the reproaches of ‘him who would swallow him up'. This last can only be Saul, who began so well, but failed in the end through disobedience. As we know David was innocent of the charges of being a traitor that were laid against him. So David's confidence lies in the fact of the God Who will send forth His covenant love and truth. He will be faithful to His promises given in the covenant, revealing His love towards those who walk in it, and establishing them in truth. Or ‘truth' may be a description of God's own faithfulness. He is true to those who look to Him. Compare Psalms 57:10 where he again exalts God's covenant love and truth.
As in Psalms 55 the selah appears in mid theme. It is drawing attention to God's intervention on David's behalf. Note that David expects His help ‘from heaven', not from Zion. He is aware that God is over all. He is God Most High.
This is the only use of the title God Most High by David, although he does refer to Him as YHWH Most High in Psalms 7:17. It is used in a Maschil of Asaph in Psalms 78:56. YHWH Most High is also used by the sons of Korah in Psalms 47:2. When used it is therefore significant.