Category: Psalm57

As I look at Psalm 57, I marvel at David’s attitude in times of trial. At a time when he is on the run and in fear of his life, he chooses to worship.

He said,

My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make music.

Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.

For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth. (Psalm 57:7–11)

Somehow, as I read these words, they resonate with me.

I WILL sing and make music!

AWAKE my soul!

AWAKE harp and lyre!

I WILL praise you O Lord!

I WILL praise you among the peoples!

For GREAT is your love!

Be EXALTED O God!

I don’t know if that’s how David sang this song.

But it seems to me throughout it, David is making a conscious decision to worship God despite his circumstances. He’s making a conscious effort to remember God’s goodness towards him.

So often, we say to ourselves, “But I don’t feel like worshiping right now. I’m just not in the mood.”

But just as David encouraged himself to worship God, we need to do the same. To not just worship when we feel like it. But to worship even when we don’t. Why?

A more modern psalm puts it this way.

When I look into your glory and light,
The things of earth pale in your sight.

Or as another song puts it,

The things that surround become shadows in the light of you.

In other words, all the things of this world that would pull us down and that would discourage us, all of them become like mere shadows compared to the shining light that is Christ.

And when we focus on him, all of our troubles pale in comparison.

Why? Because when we focus on Christ, we realize that he is much bigger than our problems, and everything in life takes its proper perspective.

So when life seems hard, when things seem to be going against you, choose to worship.

And as you put your focus on him, the peace and joy that seems to be slipping away from you because of your circumstances will return.

And as David, you will be able to say, “My heart is steadfast,” despite your circumstances.

David spent a lot of time in caves hiding from Saul, so it’s not certain that these two psalms were written at exactly this time in David’s life, but it seems appropriate to put them here, just after David’s sparing of Saul’s life.

As I look at these two psalms, two verses strike me.

The first is Psalm 142:3

When my spirit grows faint within me,
it is you who know my way.

The second is Psalm 57:2

I cry out to God Most High,
to God, who fulfills {his purpose} for me.

There are times in our lives when things are hard. For David, it was hard because he was on the run for his life, even though he had done nothing wrong.

And it’s easy to wonder at such times, “Is God there? Does God care?”

But for David, the answer was clear.

He said, “Lord, even when my soul is troubled, and I’m feeling weak, you know my way. You know the path you have for me. And Lord, you will fulfill your purpose for me.”

I think it was because he knew these things that he could spare Saul’s life. He knew he didn’t have to take things into his own hands, because he trusted God had a plan for his life and would fulfill it.

Samuel anointed him and undoubtedly encouraged him when David ran to him for help.

Jonathan reconfirmed it, saying, “You, not I, will be the next king.”

And that’s what David held onto. The promises of God. The promise that God had a plan for his life, and that he would fulfill it.

What struggles are you going through? Are you being tempted to leave God’s path and do things your way instead of his because things are tough right now?

Remember that God has a plan for you. A good plan. And he will fulfill it in your life if you’ll just trust him.

As it says in Jeremiah 29:11,

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”