Hobart Herd Devotional – Psalms 57
While I was in Israel last spring, I visited the area, the springs of Engedi, where David hid from Saul in a cave and Saul entered the very cave and fell asleep with his soldiers. Can you imagine the fear and tension of trying to remain quiet with your men and then sneaking out, cutting a piece from Saul’s robe and praising God for delivering you. This Psalm has all the emotions and tension that David and his men endured in this story. As the story goes, some of David’s men wanted him to kill Saul and end this life of running and hiding, but David would not take the life of Saul because he had been anointed by God at one time to be the king.(1 Samuel 24)
In he first 5 verses David calls out to God for His mercy and grace in intervening in this very dangerous and tempting situation. It ends in one of my favorite worship choruses in verse 5; Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.(NIV) When we cry out for help, we need to remember to worship God and ask that His will be done in bringing glory to God in all the earth. In the midst of the lions trying to devour and the net that the enemy (Saul) had spread out to catch him. David continues to write this song of praise.
Psalms 57:9-11, 9 I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. 10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.(NIV) I will remember this situation of extreme fear, anxiety and temptation when I sing this chorus again. From the heights of fear in hiding, to the despair of Saul choosing the same cave, to the temptation and encouragement of David’s men to take Saul’s life and end this trouble, come one of the most beautiful songs of worship and exaltation bring glory and honor to the Lord. I need to change my heart and learn how to worship and bring glory to God in my tough times. God wants to complete His purpose and will in our lives through the worship that comes from my heart as I trust and follow His purpose and plan for me.
In the end of 1 Samuel 24, David calls out to Saul and shows him the piece he cut off his robe. He falls on his face before Saul and asks for peace. Saul is so touched by David’s saving his life that at least for a short while there is peace in this tremendous conflict between David and Saul. May I find peace as I worship the Lord today with a right heart attitude towards my enemies and a view of my Gracious and Merciful God. Father, I want Your name to be exalted over all the earth. In order to do that I need Your mercy and grace in my situations and a change of my heart and mind in seeking and doing Your will. I want the whole earth to hear of Your greatness and faithfulness in my life. In Jesus Name, Amen! Pastor Rob