Christianity

Psalms 57Refuge in the Cave

Summary

Psalm 57 is a prayer for mercy headed with the time David fled from Saul into the cave. The psalmist takes refuge in the shadow of God's wings until the storm passes, while his enemies are like lions and their tongues sharp swords. A refrain prays that God be exalted above the heavens. The second half turns to a steadfast heart that will awaken the dawn with music. Verses 7 to 11 reappear in Psalm 108.

Key verse

“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.”

Psalms 57:1

Themes

Refuge
Steadfast Heart
Morning Praise
God's Glory

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.

They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.

Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.

I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.

For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.

Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.

Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.

Across traditions

Christianity
1 Samuel 24: David Spares Saul in the Cave
1 Samuel 24 tells how Saul entered the cave at En-gedi where David hid, and David spared his life. Some link Psalm 57's heading to this cave, others to Adullam in 1 Samuel 22.
Christianity
Psalm 108: My Heart Is Fixed
Psalm 108 combines Psalm 57:7 to 11 with Psalm 60:5 to 12 into a new psalm.
Judaism
Tehillim 57 in the JPS 1917 Tanakh
The heading Al-tashheth, Destroy not, also appears over Psalms 58, 59 and 75; Rashi reads it as David's own prayer not to be destroyed, and Radak connects it with David's flight from Saul.

Questions about Psalms 57

Which cave is meant in Psalm 57?

The heading does not say. David hid in the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22) and in a cave at En-gedi where he spared Saul (1 Samuel 24); interpreters link the psalm to either.

What does I myself will awake early mean in Psalm 57?

Verse 8 pictures the psalmist rising before dawn with harp and lyre to praise God, waking the morning rather than waiting for it.