Psalm 57
Introduction
Verse 1
Be merciful unto me, O God Or “be gracious to me” [[9]]; which words are repeated by him. “Be merciful”, or “gracious, unto me”; to show the greatness of his distress, the eagerness, vehemency, and importunity he used in prayer; his case requiring a speedy answer, and immediate relief; and that he…
Verse 2
I will cry unto God most high To remember him in his low estate, and who is higher than the highest, than Saul and his mighty men with him. This epithet David no doubt made use of, to encourage his faith in the Lord, who is above all, and can do all things; as follows; unto God that performeth all…
Verse 3
He shall send from heaven, and save me His angel, as the Targum adds; or his angels, as Kimchi; who are ministering spirits, sent forth by him, to encamp about his people, and guard them, as they did Jacob when in fear of Esau, (Gen. 32:1, Gen.
Verse 4
My soul is among lions Not literally understood; though such there might be in the wildernesses where he sometimes was; but figuratively, men comparable to lions, for their stoutness, courage, strength, fierceness, and cruelty; meaning not his own men, as some think, who were fierce, and of keen…
Verse 5
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens That is, show thyself to be God, that sittest in the heavens, and art higher than they, by saving me, and disappointing mine enemies; that I, and those that are with me, may magnify the Lord and exalt his name together.
Verse 6
They have prepared a net for my steps They laid snares for him, as the fowler does for the bird, in order to take him. It denotes the insidious ways used by Saul and his men to get David into their hands; so the Pharisees consulted together how they might entangle Christ in his talk, ; my soul is…
Verse 7
My heart is fixed, O God Firm and sure, trusting in the Lord, believing that he should be saved by him out of his troubles; see (Ps. 112:7, Ps. 112:8) .
Verse 8
Awake up, my glory Meaning his soul, whom Jacob calls his honour, ; it being the most honourable, glorious, and excellent part of man; is the breath of God, of his immediate production; is a spirit incorporeal and immortal; is possessed of glorious powers and faculties; had the image of God stamped…
Verse 9
I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people Either among the people of Israel, as Aben Ezra, when each of the tribes meet together; and so it denotes the public manner in which he would praise God for his salvation: or among the Gentiles, as the following clause shows; I will sing unto thee among…
Verse 10
For thy mercy is great unto the heavens Which denotes the exceeding greatness and largeness of it; as it is in the heart of God, who is plenteous in mercy; as it is expressed in the covenant of grace, where are stores of it; as it is shown forth in the choice of persons to eternal life; in the…
Verse 11
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens As Christ now is at the Father’s right hand, and who is God over all, blessed for ever; let thy glory be above all the earth; as it is above all the men on earth and angels in heaven. This is repeated from ; (See Gill on Ps.
To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Some think the words “Altaschith” are the beginning of a song, to the tune of which this was set, as Aben Ezra; others, that they are taken from Deut.