PASTORS ON WHEELS – KINGDOM KINDNESS & HELPS MINISTRIES Title: The Desperate Prayer Of A Saint Under Siege Dr. Michael Torres – 4/13/20 Text: Psalm 57:1 Introduction: Psalm 57 – A Psalm Of David Fleeing Saul (Running Strong Not Running Scared) David Directs An Emergency Prayer To God For DELIVERANCE! Psalm 11:1 (Running Scared) Proverbs 18:10 (Running Strong) Proverbs 28:1 (Stand Strong) Historical Setting Of Psalm 57: David On The Run! • I Samuel 21:1 – David Seeks Refuge From Saul At Nob • I Samuel 21:10 – David Departs From Nob For Fear Of Saul • I Samuel 21:11 – David Seeks Refuge In Gath Of The Philistines • I Samuel 21:12 – David Becomes Sorely Afraid And Flees Gath • I Samuel 22:1-2 – David Flees Gath And Hides In The Cave Of Adullam • I Samuel 22:3-4 – David Flees To The Land Of Moab David And His Men In The Mountain Stronghold Of Ziph • I Samuel 22:5 – Upon The Insistence Of The Prophet Gad David Departs From Moab And Makes Camp In The Judean Forest Of Hareth • I Samuel 23:13-14 – David Departs Keilah For A Mountain Stronghold In The Wilderness Of Ziph 1 • I Samuel 23:29 – David Departs From The Mountain Stronghold In Ziph And Makes His Abode In The Strongholds of Engedi And Pens Psalm 57! This Psalm is similar to the proceeding [Psalm 56], and was composed on a like occasion, namely, when David was in great danger from his enemies.1 The title in the Hebrew ascribes this psalm to David, ‘when he fled from Saul, in the cave,’ presumably referring to I Samuel 22 or 24...2 Psalm LVII – Title: Al-taschith: “Destroy not.” This title may intimate, that David trusted, that the Lord would not permit him to be destroyed, though closely pursued by Saul.3 Al-taschith, signifies destroy not; which some think to be a preface containing the sum of the Psalm and reminding David of his great distress, in which he then was; which obliged him to make fervent prayers to God that he would not destroy him, nor give him up into the hands of his enemies, who always designed and desired to destroy him, and now seemed to have a fair opportunity to do it. The cave; either, 1) that of Adullam, I Samuel 22:1; or 2) that of Engedi, I Samuel 24:1.4 Like Psalm 56, Psalm 57 is a prayer for help or an individual complaint/lament, in which the element of trust is prominent…The superscription of Psalms 57 associates the prayer [psalm] with a crisis in David’s life (see I Samuel 22:1; 24:3).5 In this prayer [psalm], David is embattled, hiding from a large military force in a cave and seeking God’s personal rescue. The backstory is found in I Samuel 24. King Saul pursues David with an army of three thousand men to Engedi, where David hides in the back of a cave. Engedi is a small area, and it is inevitable that David and his men will be found. But in the prayer [psalm], David cries out to God for mercy and expresses his belief that God will come to his rescue.6 1 Joseph Benson, Commentary On The Holy Bible, Volume II (New York, NY: T. Mason & G. Lane, 1839), p. 813. 2 J. W. Rogerson and J. W. McKay, The Cambridge Bible Commentary: Psalms 51-100 (London UK: Cambridge University Press, 2008), p. 42. 3 Thomas Scott, Commentary On The Holy Bible, Volume III (Boston, MA: Crocker & Brewster, 1858), p. 231. 4 Matthew Poole, A Commentary On The Holy Bible, Volume II (Mc Lean, VA: Mac Donald Publishing Company, 1980), p. 90. 5 J. Clinton McCann Jr., The New Interpreter’s Bible – The Book Of Psalms, Volume IV (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1996), p. 905. 6 Rabbi Dr. Sidney Vineburg, The Prayers Of David (Franklin, TN: Worthy Publishing Group, 2017), pp. 142-143. 2 I. An Urgent Plea For God’s MERCY: (Hebrew verb [action word] - hanah) to show favor to, to be gracious towards, to have perpetual mercy on – to be declared one of God’s favorites! Have pity [hanah] on me, O God [Elohim]; have pity [hanah] on me; Psalm 57:1a J.M. Powis Smith Translation Be merciful [hanah] unto me, O God {Elohim], be merciful [hanan] unto me: Psalm 57:1a King James Version Who will be merciful to you? Who will prove to the world that you are one of his favorites? Your GOD [ELOHIM] – the very cause of your entire existence! Commentary: Have mercy on me…have mercy: The repetitive use of “have mercy” is to lend force to the depth of the psalmist’s plea.7 Be merciful (gracious) unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: The repetition implies the intense earnestness of the petitioner and the greatness of the danger.8 Be merciful unto me: To shew David’s deep earnestness, he repeats this twice: David was in great danger, surrounded by implacable enemies and he knew that God alone could deliver him.9 Be merciful unto me, O God! – Thus, the psalmist prays and looks to God for help, when surrounded with enemies: and he repeats his petition because of the greatness of his danger and through the fervency of his spirit in his request, withal implying that his whole hope and trust was in God’s mercy.10 7 Martin S. Rozenberg and Bernard M. Zlotowitz, The Book Of Psalms: A New Translation And Commentary (Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson Inc., 1999), p. 346. 8 Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown, A Commentary On The Old And New Testament, Volume II (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1978), p. 222. 9 Adam Clarke, A Commentary On The Holy Bible, Volume III (New York, NY: B. Waugh And T. Mason, 1833), p. 188 – Bold Lettering. 10 Joseph Benson, Commentary On The Holy Bible, Volume II (New York, NY: T. Mason & G. Lane, 1839), p. 813. 3 II. The Desperate Act Of A SOUL In Serious Danger: (Hebrew verb [action word] - hasah) to come under, to hide in, to seek refuge in, to find shelter in! Matthew 7:7-11; Proverbs 18:10 …For in Thee I am taking refuge [hasah]: Psalm 57:1b J.M. Powis Smith Translation …for my soul trusteth [hasah] in thee: Psalm 57:1b King James Version Commentary: My soul trusted in Thee: I [David] put my life into Thy hand; and my immortal spirit knows no other portion than Thyself.11 …for my soul trusteth in Thee: He [David] grounds his prayer on this – threatened on all sides by the world, he puts his whole trust in God (cf. Psalm 56:1-2)…The cry to God naturally follows soul-trust in God (v. 1).12 …he [David] trusted in Him [God] with all his heart and soul, and trusted Him [God] with his soul or life: and this he makes a reason or argument for mercy; seeing, as the mercy ,of the Lord is an encouragement to faith and hope; so the Lord has declared, that He takes pleasure in those that hope and trust in it; wherefore mercy may be expected by such.13 Because his need is great, the psalmist [David] seeks asylum with the Lord.14 11 Adam Clarke, A Commentary On The Holy Bible, Volume III (New York, NY: B. Waugh And T. Mason, 1833), p. 188. 12 Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown, A Commentary On The Old And New Testament, Volume II (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1978), p. 222. 13 John Gill, Exposition Of The Old And New Testaments, Volume III (Paris, AR: The Baptist Standard Bearer Inc., 1989), p. 759. 14 Willem A. Van Gemeren, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume V (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing Company, 1991), p. 402. 4 III. The Desperate Act Of A SOUL Facing Certain DEATH: (Hebrew verb [action word] - hasah) to come under, to hide in, to seek refuge in, to find shelter in! …And in the shadow of thy wings I take refuge [hasah]… Psalm 57:1c J.M. Powis Smith Translation …yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge [hasah]… Psalm 57:1c King James Version Commentary: Yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge – Not in the cave alone would he [David] hide, but in the cleft of the Rock of ages. As the little birds find ample shelter beneath the parental wing, even so would the fugitive [David] place himself beneath the secure protection of the divine power. The emblem is delightfully familiar and suggestive. May we all experimentally know its meaning. When we cannot see the sunshine of God’s face, it is blessed to cower down beneath the shadow of His wings.15 David, encompassed by his enemies at Engedi, putteth up this prayer to God; the same prayer we may suppose to have been used by our blessed Lord, when drawing near to the grave, and gate of death: and the Church ever continueth to use it, until she be delivered from the bondage of corruption. In time mean time, 15 Charles Haddon Spurgeon, The Treasury Of David, Volume I (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing Company, 1975), pp. 475-476. 5 she teacheth her children to put themselves, living and dying, under the protection of Him, who is always ready to “gather them, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings.” There they may rest in peace and security.16 In the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, as the chickens take shelter under the wings of the hen when the birds of prey are ready to strike at them, until these calamities be over-past.17 Yea, in the shadow of thy wings, &c.] As the little chicken in danger of the kite hovereth, and covereth under the hen.18 Shadow of thy wings: a magnificent metaphor.