Bible Commentaries
Psalms 57

Introduction

Psalms 57:0

STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see “Guide to Good Bible Reading”)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph

2. Second paragraph

3. Third paragraph

4. Etc.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

A. Psalms 57:0 is characterized by the use of double (or triple) words.

1. be gracious to me, Psalms 57:1; Psalms 57:1

2. take refuge, Psalms 57:1

3. my heart is steadfast, Psalms 57:7

4. awake, Psalms 57:8

B. In Psalms 57:6 and 7 there are several verbs that start with the Hebrew letter Kaph.

1. prepared BDB 465, KB 464

2. bowed down BDB 496, KB 493

3. dug BDB 500, KB 496

4. fall BDB 656, KB 709

5. steadfast BDB 465, KB 464 (twice)

Also nouns

1. glory, Psalms 57:5 BDB 458

2. my soul/liver, Psalms 57:8 BDB 458 (NASB has “glory,” BDB 458)

3. lyre, Psalms 57:8; Psalms 57:8 BDB 490

C. Psalms 57:6 is a typical “reversal” motif, so common in the OT. Enemies plan evil but are caught in their own schemes.

D. Two key theological terms are repeated.

1. lovingkingness (hesed) BDB 338, cf. Psalms 57:3 (personified), 10 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (HESED)

2. faithfulness/truth (emet) BDB 54, Psalms 57:3 (personified), 10 (see SPECIAL TOPIC: Believe, Trust, Faith, and Faithfulness in the Old Testament)

E. This Psalm mentions “the nations.” See Special Topic: YHWH's Universal Redemptive Plan.

Verses 1-3

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 57:1-3 1Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge Until destruction passes by. 2I will cry to God Most High, To God who accomplishes all things for me. 3He will send from heaven and save me; He reproaches him who tramples upon me. Selah. God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth.

Psalms 57:1 This Psalm is characterized by the double use of words (i.e., Hebrew parallelism, see Special Topic: Hebrew Poetry). See Contextual Insights, A.

▣ “Be gracious to me” Psalms 57:1 (twice). See note at Psalms 56:1-7.

▣ “refuge” The verb (BDB 340, KB 334) is a recurrent theme in the Psalms. See note at Psalms 57:2 and 5:11-12. Here there is a play between

1. the perfect denoting completed action and a resulting state

2. the imperfect denoting ongoing continuing action

▣ “the shadow of Your wings” This is one of several feminine metaphors to describe God.

1. as a mother bird Genesis 1:2; Exodus 19:4; Deuteronomy 32:11; Deuteronomy 33:12; Isaiah 31:5

2. nursing mother Isaiah 49:15; Isaiah 66:13; Hosea 11:4 (emendation)

See SPECIAL TOPIC: SHADOW AS METAPHOR FOR PROTECTION AND CARE.

▣ “until destruction passes by” This continues the metaphor of God as a mother bird. Note “destruction” (i.e., destructive winds or storm, BDB 217, cf. similar terms in Psalms 55:8) is personified (cf. Isaiah 26:20).

Psalms 57:2 “God Most High” This is the name Elohim (BDB 43, see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY) combined with Elyon (BDB 751 I). See notes at Psalms 7:17 and Psalms 46:4b.

▣ “God” This is El (BDB 42), the general name for deity in the ANE.

▣ “who accomplishes all things for me” What an inclusive faith assertion (cf. Psalms 138:8). Experience tells us that “all” must be defined and limited. But this faithful follower believes (cf. Philippians 1:6).

In this context God's actions are noted in Psalms 57:3.

1. send from heaven who or what is not specified

2. save me from vicious enemies (cf. Psalms 57:4, Psalms 57:6)

3. reproach those who trample (cf. Psalms 56:2) BDB 357 I; it means “rebuke” or “put to shame” those who say sharp things (see the enemies described as wild lions with sharp teeth, Psalms 57:4)

4. send forth His personified lovingkingness and truth/faithfulness, cf. Psalms 89:14 and also Psalms 43:3, where “light” and “truth” are personified as YHWH's servants

Psalms 57:3 “sent from heaven” The term “heaven” has two distinct usages.

1. the atmosphere above the earth (cf. Psalms 57:5, see Special Topic: Heaven)

2. the place YHWH dwells (cf. Psalms 57:5, see Special Topic: Heaven and the Third Heaven)

In OT thought God was transcendent. The Holy One of Israel was separated from sinful creations after Genesis 3:0. He dwelt with Israel in the Holy of Holies, between the wings of the Cherubim, above the mercy seat of the ark of the covenant (which symbolized the place of atonement, cf. Leviticus 16:0). There is a purposeful tension between YHWH”s transcendent holiness and immanence with Israel.

▣ “Selah” See note at Psalms 3:2 and Intro. to Psalms, VII.

Verses 4-6

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 57:4-6 4My soul is among lions; I must lie among those who breathe forth fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows And their tongue a sharp sword. 5Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Your glory be above all the earth. 6They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They dug a pit before me; They themselves have fallen into the midst of it. Selah.

Psalms 57:4-6 These verses characterize the psalmist's enemies and his God who supports him (cf. Psalms 57:2).

1. the enemies

a. like lions

b. breathe fire (or, KB 521 II, to devour, found only here)

c. teeth/words are spears and arrows

d. prepared a trap to catch and kill him but will fall into it themselves (cf. Proverbs 26:27)

2. God (cf. Psalms 57:5, Psalms 57:11)

a. be exalted BDB 926, KB 1202, Qal imperative, here “heavens” refers to the atmosphere above the earth (note parallelism)

b. Your glory be above the earth

3. the psalmist

a. I must lie among. . . BDB 1011, KB 1486, Qal cohortative

b. my soul is bowed down BDB 496, KB 493, Qal perfect

Verses 7-11

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psalms 57:7-11 7My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises! 8Awake, my glory! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. 9I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. 10For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens And Your truth to the clouds. 11Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Your glory be above all the earth.

Psalms 57:7-11 This strophe is almost exactly like Psalms 108:1-5. It may have been a liturgical refrain.

Psalms 57:7-9 This strophe expresses the psalmist's faith and confidence in YHWH's actions on his behalf.

1. my heart is steadfast, Psalms 57:7; Psalms 57:7 (twice) BDB 465, KB 464, Niphal participle

2. I will sing, Psalms 57:7 BDB 1010, KB 1479, Qal cohortative

3. I will sing praises, Psalms 57:7 BDB 274, KB 273, Piel cohortative

4. awake my glory (or “my soul,” lit. “liver,” both BDB 458), Psalms 57:8 BDB 734, KB 802, Qal imperative

5. awake my harp and lyre (i.e., instruments for the psalmist to praise God with), Psalms 57:8 BDB same verb as #4

6. I will awaken the dawn, Psalms 57:8 BDB 734, KB 802, Hiphil cohortative

7. I will give thanks, Psalms 57:9 BDB 392, KB 389, Hiphil imperfect used in a cohortative sense

8. I will sing praises, Psalms 57:9 BDB 274, KB 273, Piel imperfect used in a cohortative sense

Psalms 57:9 Notice the parallelism between “the peoples” (BDB 766 I) and “the nations” (BDB 115 and BDB 52, i.e., not covenant peoples). There is a recurrent emphasis in the Psalms on the universal aspect of Israel's God (cf. Psalms 9:11b; Psalms 18:47, Psalms 18:49; Psalms 105:1; Psalms 145:12-13). The implication of monotheism (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM) is that there is only one true God who created all humans in His image for fellowship (see Special Topic: YHWH's Universal Redemptive Plan).

Psalms 57:10 This verse repeats the personified servants of God (i.e., hesed and emet) from Psalms 57:3. They are both said to be “above” the heavens and clouds (i.e., atmosphere of this planet), which denotes

1. their greatness

2. their origin in God

Psalms 57:11 This repeats Psalms 57:5. It functions as a way to denote the greatness of God (i.e., His transcendence above His creation).

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought provoking, not definitive.

1. Explain the metaphor of “the shadow of Your wings,” Psalms 57:1.

2. List the three names for Deity in Psalms 57:2 and explain their implication.

3. Define “heaven.”

4. Why are aspects of God's character personified?

5. Explain Psalms 57:9 in light of monotheism.