Charles Swindoll wrote, “When you accept…that God is in control… [even during the tough times], you will discover a sense of divine refuge, because hope then is in God and not yourself.” (‘Think Theologically not Logically’, an on-line article, 2009)
Like so many of the Bible characters, David discovers his most important lessons about God in the tough times. This psalm has some amazing truths about God, yet David is hiding in a cave because he is being hunted down like an animal by a crazed king. He writes:
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.
From a purely human point of view, it would seem that King Saul had all the advantage. But David has an insight that Saul lacks and that concerns the awesomeness of God.
Wilcock comments: “What David can do is to see the broad picture, both of the plan of God and of the progress of evil…this God is above the heavens and over all the earth, in control of everything; and since he has already begun to show his love and his faithfulness (v. 2)by rescuing David from both Saul and Achish, the fall of his enemies is a matter only of time, not of uncertainty…David has learned to think of his Lord as God Most High (v. 2), the God of heaven (v. 3), the God all the earth (v. 5).” (# 5)
And in the words of Craig Broyles, “Psalm 57 is a prayer of the individual, but one that presents the individual’s need within the wider context of God’s glory with its cosmic revelation (vs 5 & 11) and international proclamation (vs 9-11).” (# 4)
Read verses 7-11 again and ask God to reveal the wonder of Himself to you, so that, no matter what the circumstances of your life, you will be able to say,
My heart, O God, is quiet and confident.
Now I can sing with passion your wonderful praises…
9 Wherever I go I will thank you, my God.
Among all the nations they will hear my praise songs to you.
10 Your love is so extravagant it reaches to the heavens,
Your faithfulness so astonishing it stretches to the sky!
11 Lord God, be exalted as you soar throughout the
heavens.
May your shining glory be shown in the skies!
Let it be seen high above all the earth! (The Passion Translation)
This prayer in verse 11 is ultimately answered in the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9 Therefore
God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2)
Have you bowed your knees to Him? Have you acknowledged Him as Lord? Only then will you be able to experience God’s love and faithfulness, in the good and the bad times, as David did.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. Amen.
Tehilim (Psalms) - "songs of praise". 