Psalms 57: In the Shadow of Your Wings
Hidden in a cave from his enemies, David takes refuge under God's wings and rises with a steadfast heart to sing God's praise among the nations.
Psalms 57 (WEB)
1 Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you. Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, until disaster has passed.
2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who accomplishes my requests for me.
3 He will send from heaven, and save me, he rebukes the one who is pursuing me. Selah. God will send out his loving kindness and his truth.
4 My soul is among lions. I lie among those who are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
5 Be exalted, 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 dig a pit before me. They fall into its midst themselves. Selah.
7 My heart is steadfast, God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises.
8 Wake up, my glory! Wake up, psaltery and harp! I will wake up the dawn.
9 I will give thanks to you, Lord, among the peoples. I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your great loving kindness reaches to the heavens, and your truth to the skies.
11 Be exalted, God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth.
Psalms 57 (KJV)
1 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.
2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.
3 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.
4 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.
5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.
6 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.
7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
8 Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
9 I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.
10 For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.
Psalms 57 (ASV)
1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me; For my soul taketh refuge in thee: Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I take refuge, Until these calamities be overpast.
2 I will cry unto God Most High, Unto God that performeth all things for me.
3 He will send from heaven, and save me, Whenhe that would swallow me up reproacheth; [Selah God will send forth his lovingkindness and his truth.
4 My soul is among lions; I lie among them that are set on fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.
5 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let thy glory be above all the earth.
6 They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down: They have digged a pit before me; They are fallen into the midst thereof themselves. [Selah
7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing, yea, I will sing praises.
8 Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake right early.
9 I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the peoples: I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
10 For thy lovingkindness is great unto the heavens, And thy truth unto the skies.
11 Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let thy glory be above all the earth.
Summary
Psalm 57 is a lament that rises into a song of praise, traditionally set when David hid from Saul in a cave. It opens with a doubled cry for mercy and a beautiful image of refuge: my soul takes refuge in you; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge until disaster has passed. David cries to God Most High, who accomplishes his requests, trusting that God will send from heaven to save him and will send out his loving kindness and his truth. He describes his peril vividly: his soul is among lions, among men whose teeth are spears and arrows and whose tongues are sharp swords. Yet in the middle of the danger he prays a refrain that lifts his eyes above his trouble: Be exalted, God, above the heavens; let your glory be above all the earth. His enemies set a net and dug a pit, but they fall into it themselves. Then the psalm pivots dramatically. David declares, My heart is steadfast, God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise. He calls on his own soul, the harp, and the dawn to wake and worship, and vows to give thanks among the peoples and sing among the nations, for God's loving kindness reaches to the heavens and his truth to the skies. The closing refrain repeats the longing for God's glory over all the earth, turning a cave of fear into a sanctuary of praise.
Voices
- David — The fugitive psalmist who shelters under God's wings, prays for God's glory in the midst of danger, and rises with a steadfast heart to praise.
- God Most High — The God who accomplishes David's requests, sends his loving kindness and truth from heaven, and is to be exalted above all the earth.
- The lion-like enemies — The men set on fire against David, whose teeth are spears and arrows and whose tongues are sharp swords, who fall into their own pit.
Key Verse
Psalm 57:1 (WEB)
Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you. Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, until disaster has passed.
Lessons Learned
- In danger, we can hide in God as under the shadow of his protecting wings until the storm passes.
- A heart fixed on God's exaltation rises above present trouble even before it is resolved.
- The schemes of the wicked often recoil upon themselves while God guards his own.
- A steadfast heart turns even a place of fear into a place of song and praise.
- God's wings are a place of refuge. "In the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, until disaster has passed" (Psalm 57:1, WEB); we shelter in his protective care through the storm.
- God's glory matters more than our deliverance. "Be exalted, God, above the heavens! Let your glory be above all the earth!" (Psalm 57:5, WEB); even in peril, David prays first for God's honor.
- The wicked are snared by their own schemes. "They dig a pit before me. They fall into its midst themselves" (Psalm 57:6, WEB); God turns evil plots back on their makers.
- A steadfast heart is the seedbed of praise. "My heart is steadfast, God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing" (Psalm 57:7, WEB); fixed trust frees the soul to worship.
- God's love and truth fill the universe. "For your great loving kindness reaches to the heavens, and your truth to the skies" (Psalm 57:10, WEB); his steadfast love is boundless.
- What does the image of taking refuge "in the shadow of your wings" (57:1) convey about how God protects us?
- How does David describe his enemies in verse 4, and how does he respond in verse 5?
- What happens to the trap the enemies set in verse 6, and what does this reveal about God's justice?
- What changes between the first and second half of the psalm, and what does "My heart is steadfast" (57:7) signify?
- How can you turn a present "cave" of difficulty into a place of worship, as David did?
- The image pictures a parent bird sheltering its young beneath its wings, conveying nearness, warmth, and protective covering. David hides not in the cave itself but in God, taking refuge under his care until the danger passes. It speaks of intimate safety in God's presence rather than mere escape from harm.
- David says his soul is among lions, among men whose teeth are spears and arrows and whose tongues are sharp swords (57:4). Surrounded by such ferocity, he responds not by cursing them but by praying, "Be exalted, God, above the heavens," lifting his eyes to God's glory above the threat.
- The enemies dig a pit for David but fall into it themselves (57:6). This reveals God's just governance, by which the schemes of the wicked recoil upon them. David trusts God to handle the threat, confident that evil ultimately undoes itself under God's righteous rule.
- The first half is dominated by danger and pleas for mercy; the second half bursts into confident praise. "My heart is steadfast" signifies a fixed, settled trust in God that no longer wavers with circumstances. From that steadiness flows singing, thanksgiving, and a longing for God's glory over all the earth.
- This is the personal-application question. Invite members to identify a present hardship and to consider, like David, lifting their eyes to God's worth and steadfast love within it. As leader, encourage one concrete act of worship in the midst of difficulty, trusting that a steadfast heart can sing even in a cave.