Psalms 57 — with JFB Commentary
The King James text with the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary (1871, public domain) directly beneath the verses it explains. Verses without a JFB note stand alone.
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1Be 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.
PSALM 57
Psa 57:1-11. Altaschith--or, "Destroy not." This is perhaps an enigmatical allusion to the critical circumstances connected with the history, for which compare 1Sa 22:1; 26:1-3. In Moses' prayer (De 9:26) it is a prominent petition deprecating God's anger against the people. This explanation suits the fifty-eighth and fifty-ninth also. Asaph uses it for the seventy-fifth, in the scope of which there is allusion to some emergency. Michtam--(See on Psa 16:1, title). To an earnest cry for divine aid, the Psalmist adds, as often, the language of praise, in the assured hope of a favorable hearing.
1. my soul--or self, or life, which is threatened.
shadow of thy wings--(Psa 17:8; 36:7).
calamities--literally, "mischiefs" (Psa 52:2; 55:10).
2I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.
2. performeth--or, completes what He has begun.
3He 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.
3. from ... swallow me up--that pants in rage after me (Psa 56:2).
mercy and ... truth--(Psa 25:10; 36:5), as messengers (Psa 43:3) sent to deliver him.
4My 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.
4. The mingled figures of wild beasts (Psa 10:9; 17:12) and weapons of war (Psa 11:2) heighten the picture of danger.
whose ... tongue--or slanders.
5Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.
5. This doxology illustrates his view of the connection of his deliverance with God's glory.
6They 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.
6. (Compare Psa 7:15; 9:15, 16).
7My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
7. I will ... praise--both with voice and instrument.
8Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
8. Hence--he addresses his glory, or tongue (Psa 16:9; 30:12), and his psaltery, or lute, and harp.
I myself ... early--literally, "I will awaken dawn," poetically expressing his zeal and diligence.
9I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations.
9-10. As His mercy and truth, so shall His praise, fill the universe.
10For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.
9-10. As His mercy and truth, so shall His praise, fill the universe.
11Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.