Psalm 57- Be Exalted, O God

 Psalm 57- Be Exalted, O God

Psalm 57 (NET Bible)

For the music director; according to the al-tashcheth style; a prayer of David, written when he fled from Saul into the cave.

Have mercy on me, O God! Have mercy on me!

For in you I have taken shelter.

In the shadow of your wings I take shelter

until trouble passes.

I cry out for help to the sovereign God,

to the God who vindicates me.

May he send help from heaven and deliver me

from my enemies who hurl insults! (Selah)

May God send his loyal love and faithfulness!

I am surrounded by lions;

I lie down among those who want to devour me;

men whose teeth are spears and arrows,

whose tongues are a sharp sword.

Rise up above the sky, O God!

May your splendor cover the whole earth!

They have prepared a net to trap me;

I am discouraged.

They have dug a pit for me.

They will fall into it! (Selah)

I am determined, O God! I am determined!

I will sing and praise you!

Awake, my soul!

Awake, O stringed instrument and harp!

I will wake up at dawn!

I will give you thanks before the nations, O Master!

I will sing praises to you before foreigners!

For your loyal love extends beyond the sky,

and your faithfulness reaches the clouds.

Rise up above the sky, O God!

May your splendor cover the whole earth!

Recently I was talking with some of the brothers about walking in the Spirit. We were discussing how to walk in the Spirit when you are walking through danger. This reminded me of David in Psalm 57. He was running from King Saul and was in great danger. He is not shy about reminding the Lord how bad things are: “lions want to devour me”, “tongues are sharp swords”, “a net to trap me”, “dug a pit for me”… Still, in the midst of all his trouble and imminent danger, he found time to praise the Lord.

Psalms 57:5 (NASB)

Be exalted above the heavens, O God;

Let Your glory be above all the earth.

Psalms 57:7-11

Awake, my glory!

Awake, harp and lyre!

I will awaken the dawn.

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to You among the nations.

For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens

And Your truth to the clouds.

Be exalted above the heavens, O God;

Let Your glory be above all the earth.

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;

I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!

This is the attitude that we must also have. No matter how bad the circumstances look, we need to keep looking up and praise the Lord. He is the only sure answer it time of trouble and is able to rescue you. 

Some preacher, sometime in my past, once asked, “When walking through the shadow of death, what it the most important thing to do?   … Keep walking!” Singing praises to the Lord will help you keep walking even when all around you looks dark as death. He is exalted and can lift you out of the pit, so keep walking and keep praising.