Imagine hiding in the back of a dark cave because the authorities are after you. You can hear the helicopters; you see the faint lights as officers scan the opening. Your last meeting with the man in charge had gone well. He had called off the troops. After all, you’re innocent. But fortunately, you followed that voice deep inside and gone into hiding just in case. Sure enough, the big guy had another manic episode, and overnight you are again a fugitive.
That’s how David must have felt when he penned Psalm 57. After using his musical talents to soothe King Saul’s bouts of rage and handing him the king the head of his enemy, David finds himself on the run. If risking his life to win the hand of the princess and leading the troops safely through numerous battles doesn’t convince Saul of David’s loyalty, nothing will.
Out of options, David hides in the cave and pours his heart out in song.
1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,
    for in you I take refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings
    until the disaster has passed.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
    to God, who vindicates me.
3 He sends from heaven and saves me,
    rebuking those who hotly pursue meâ€â€
    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness. –Psalm 57:1-3
After almost a decade of Saul’s unfounded accusations, many would be cursing God. Samuel had promised the young warrior the throne. The old prophet had said he brought the message from the Almighty, but how long do you put up with the persecution and fear before you give up on God? For David, the answer is as long as it takes. In His darkest hour, David cries to God, and his prayer includes praise.
I believe God can handle our honesty, and if you need to yell and be angry with Yahweh, he will listen. But I admire David. He had every right to wonder why the Lord of Hosts enjoyed watching him hide out in the back of a cave with a couple hundred soldiers. Instead, the future king reminds those with him that Elohim Shomri–God, my Protector–has them covered.
Some might say David had nothing to fear. Of course, his prayer includes praise because Saul wouldn’t really kill him. That’s not how it looked from David’s perspective:
4 I am in the midst of lions;
    I am forced to dwell among ravenous beastsâ€â€
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    whose tongues are sharp swords.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.
6 They spread a net for my feetâ€â€
    I was bowed down in distress.
They dug a pit in my pathâ€â€
    but they have fallen into it themselves. — Psalm 57:4-6
Saul’s army included three thousand trained soldiers while David had found a couple hundred men who admired the valiant warrior. The odds were against him. Still David praised El Elyon–Lord of heaven and the earth–in the middle of his lament
David challenges us to rethink our attitude when life tries to knock us down. On our worst day, we don’t have soldiers pursuing us. David had hidden his parents in a foreign country because he was afraid for their lives. What do our prayers look like when we face days or months or even years of trials? In the midst of our honest cries do we remember the truth of who God is? Can we praise El Shaddai–the God who is more than enough–when life has sucked us dry?
David gives us a few verses to sing on those days when we can’t find the words to praise:
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. Psalm 57:7-11
When life gets dark, and you can’t find the words to praise, borrow from David. The shepherd turned warrior turned king says, “I won’t give up. I will sing. I will praise loud enough to awaken the sun. I will praise you to other leaders and sing in front of crowds. I know your love is longer and higher than I can imagine, and even though I can’t see your goodness right now, you never give up on me. So I lift you up and spread your glory all over the earth.”
I love to hear from you!
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