Context No. 2867 of 4322 · Psalms

Psalms 57:1-11: in context

1Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me, for my soul takes refuge in you. Yes, in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, until disaster has passed. 2I cry out to God Most High, to God who accomplishes my requests for me. 3He will send from heaven, and save me, he rebukes the one who is pursuing me. Selah. God will send out his loving kindness and his truth. 4My soul is among lions. I lie among those who are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. 5Be exalted, God, above the heavens! Let your glory be above all the earth! 6They have prepared a net for my steps. My soul is bowed down. They dig a pit before me. They fall into the middle of it themselves. Selah. 7My heart is steadfast, God. My heart is steadfast. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises. 8Wake up, my glory! Wake up, lute and harp! I will wake up the dawn. 9I will give thanks to you, Lord, among the peoples. I will sing praises to you among the nations. 10For your great loving kindness reaches to the heavens, and your truth to the skies. 11Be exalted, God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth.

David wrote this psalm hiding in a cave from Saul, and you can feel both the danger and the resolve in it. Be merciful to me, God; in the shadow of your wings I take refuge until the storms of destruction pass. He is surrounded by enemies whose teeth are spears and arrows, his soul among lions, and still he cries out to God Most High.

Then the psalm turns. My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make melody. Awake, my soul; I will wake the dawn with praise. Notice that the steadfast heart is not a heart with no fear; it is a heart that has decided where to hide and whom to praise no matter what. In the cave, David does two things at once, takes shelter under God's wings and resolves to sing, waking the dawn with song before a single circumstance has changed.

In the cave of my own trouble, can I both take refuge under God's wings and choose, before anything changes, to sing?

Sources

Psalm 57:1: "In the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge, until disaster has passed."
Psalm 57:7: "My heart is steadfast, God. My heart is steadfast. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises."
Acts 16:25: "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them."