1And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi. 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. 3And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. 4And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe privily. 5And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt. 6And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord. 7 So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way. 8 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.
Psalm 57
To the chief Musician, Altaschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. 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. 8Awake 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.
Meditation
Hitherto we have not considered the relationship between the psalms. The psalms are grouped morally and are not necessarily chronologically. In this particular instance, Psalm 57 comes after 56 in time; nevertheless, we know that several other psalms fall between them chronologically (e.g., 34, 142, 52, 63, and 54). Morally, Psalm 57 is brighter than 56. David is confident: his eye is fixed on God and His power and help.
David places his trust in God; He takes refuge beneath the shadow of His wings (vs. 1) and waits until the trial is past (vs. 2). Elohim Elyon — God most High (vs. 2) — is a millennial title; it emphasizes the supremacy of God over all; in this case it especially refers to the One “that performeth all things” (vs. 2). David is looking up and not to himself or to this earth; his help is from heaven (vs. 3). When we take things into our own hands, we fear; it was only after Moses had slain the Egyptian that he became afraid (Ex. 2:12-14). Even the cutting off of a piece of Saul’s robe caused David’s heart to smite him.
It is frequently forgotten that the psalms do not express a Christian position. David was the sweet psalmist of Israel (2 Sam. 23:1) and the psalms are very much connected with the trials and aspirations of that nation.
Despite the translation of the first verse, it is not mercy that David seeks but God’s gracious condescension. In contrast, we are the recipients of God’s full display of love in Christ. We can say, “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32).
The Father in His gracious love,
Did spare Thee from His side;
And Thou didst stoop to bear above,
At such a cost, Thy bride. (L.F. #302)
We should marvel at the grace that has brought us into such a place. Do we thank and praise God? It should cause us to fall on our faces and worship Him. “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved” (Eph. 1:5-6).
In the cave with Saul and his men, David was in the midst of a veritable lion’s den, and yet, is it his own glory that he wishes to safeguard? No, not at all! “Be Thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Thy glory be above all the earth” (vs. 5). We hear the Spirit of Christ in these words: “Father, glorify Thy name” (John 12:28).
Is my heart fixed? Is it steadfast? David’s faith often puts us to shame: “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise” (vs. 7). In contrast, of Reuben it is said: “unstable as water, thou shalt not excel” (Gen. 49:44Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch. (Genesis 49:4)).
God would send forth His mercy and truth (vs. 3), and yet, it is only at Calvary that we see the two meeting together. Prior to the cross, they were of necessity accompanied by the forbearance of God. David proclaims the greatness of God’s mercy and His truth (vs. 10). God must be glorified; man will be humbled (vs. 11).