Ps 57:1-11.
Altaschith--or, "Destroy not." This is perhaps an enigmatical
allusion to the critical circumstances connected with the history, for
which compare
1Sa 22:1; 26:1-3.
In Moses' prayer
(De 9:26)
it is a prominent petition deprecating God's anger against the people.
This explanation suits the fifty-eighth and fifty-ninth also. Asaph
uses it for the seventy-fifth, in the scope of which there is allusion
to some emergency. Michtam--(See on
Ps 16:1,
title). To an earnest cry for divine aid, the Psalmist adds, as often,
the language of praise, in the assured hope of a favorable hearing.
1. my soul--or self, or life, which is threatened.
shadow of thy wings--
(Ps 17:8; 36:7).
calamities--literally, "mischiefs"
(Ps 52:2; 55:10).
2. performeth--or, completes what He has begun.
3. from . . . swallow me up--that pants in rage after me
(Ps 56:2).
mercy and . . . truth--
(Ps 25:10; 36:5),
as messengers
(Ps 43:3)
sent to deliver him.
4. The mingled figures of wild beasts
(Ps 10:9; 17:12)
and weapons of war
(Ps 11:2)
heighten the picture of danger.
whose . . . tongue--or slanders.
5. This doxology illustrates his view of the connection of his
deliverance with God's glory.
7. I will . . . praise--both with voice and instrument.
8. Hence--he addresses his glory, or tongue
(Ps 16:9; 30:12),
and his psaltery, or lute, and harp.
I myself . . . early--literally, "I will awaken dawn," poetically
expressing his zeal and diligence.
9, 10. As His mercy and truth, so shall His praise, fill the universe.
Psalm 57 Bible Commentary
Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown
Ps 57:1-11. Altaschith--or, "Destroy not." This is perhaps an enigmatical allusion to the critical circumstances connected with the history, for which compare 1Sa 22:1; 26:1-3. In Moses' prayer (De 9:26) it is a prominent petition deprecating God's anger against the people. This explanation suits the fifty-eighth and fifty-ninth also. Asaph uses it for the seventy-fifth, in the scope of which there is allusion to some emergency. Michtam--(See on Ps 16:1, title). To an earnest cry for divine aid, the Psalmist adds, as often, the language of praise, in the assured hope of a favorable hearing.
1. my soul--or self, or life, which is threatened.
shadow of thy wings-- (Ps 17:8; 36:7).
calamities--literally, "mischiefs" (Ps 52:2; 55:10).
2. performeth--or, completes what He has begun.
3. from . . . swallow me up--that pants in rage after me (Ps 56:2).
mercy and . . . truth-- (Ps 25:10; 36:5), as messengers (Ps 43:3) sent to deliver him.
4. The mingled figures of wild beasts (Ps 10:9; 17:12) and weapons of war (Ps 11:2) heighten the picture of danger.
whose . . . tongue--or slanders.
5. This doxology illustrates his view of the connection of his deliverance with God's glory.
6. (Compare Ps 7:15; 9:15, 16).
7. I will . . . praise--both with voice and instrument.
8. Hence--he addresses his glory, or tongue (Ps 16:9; 30:12), and his psaltery, or lute, and harp.
I myself . . . early--literally, "I will awaken dawn," poetically expressing his zeal and diligence.
9, 10. As His mercy and truth, so shall His praise, fill the universe.