Put Your Faith in God
Post written from a sermon preached by Dr. Ken Burkett. To listen to his sermon, click here.
A study of Psalm 57
We are continuing our study on David as he is fleeing King Saul and is utterly overwhelmed. King Saul is determined to kill David, so he leaves and becomes a fugitive to preserve his life.
First David leaves his country and tries to hide out in the land of the Philistines. They soon recognize him, and he realizes that he is not safe there. He must head back to his own land. He finds himself all alone in a cave in the wilderness.
For the first time in David’s life, we are told he is afraid. In effect, he has now lost his job, wife, home, spiritual advisor, and his best friend. David is all alone and desperately needs God’s comfort at this time in his life. How will he find it? What will it involve? What are the ramifications of this? The answers are in the Psalms that David composes at this time. Today we look at Psalm 57. David learns that
- God is all-powerful.
- God is on your side.
- God’s glory is the greatest good.
David’s negative declarations
- these calamities vs. 1
- the reproach of him that would swallow me up vs. 3
- My soul is among lions. vs. 4
- I lie among them that are set on fire. vs. 4
- Their teeth are spears and arrows. vs. 4
- Their tongue is a sharp sword. vs. 4
- They have prepared a net for my steps. vs. 6
- My soul is bowed down. vs. 6
- They have dug a pit before me. vs. 6
Prayer for Safety from Enemies
To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David when he fled from Saul into the cave.
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.
2 I will cry out to God Most High,
To God who performs all things for me.
3 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.
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.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.
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
7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and give praise.
8 Awake, my glory!
Awake, lute and harp!
I will awaken the dawn.
9 I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing to You among the nations.
10 For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,
And Your truth unto the clouds.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth
What David Affirms about the Lord
- For my soul trusts in You. vs. 1
- And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge. vs. 1
- Until these calamities have passed vs. 1
- God Who performs all things for me. vs. 2
- He shall send from heaven, and save me. vs. 3
- God shall send forth His mercy and His truth. vs. 3
- Into the midst of the pit they have fallen. vs. 6
- My heart is steadfast. vs. 7
- I will sing and give praise. vs. 7
- Awake up my glory! Awake, lute and harp! vs. 8
- I will awaken at dawn. vs. 8
- I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples. vs. 9
- I will sing unto You among the nations. vs. 9
- Your mercy reaches unto the heavens vs. 10
- Your truth reaches unto the clouds. vs. 10
- Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. vs. 11
- Let Your glory be above all the earth. vs. 11