TUESDAY, AUGUST 28

Psalm 57:1-11

Philippians 4:6-7

“O LORD God of hosts, who is a
strong LORD like unto thee?”

MUSINGS FROM THE CAVE

For the background of Psalm 57, we have the commentary of Augustus F. Tholuck (1856): “A Psalm composed when David fled from Saul in the cave, which is referred to in Psalm 142, and which, because it is without any other distinction called ‘the cave,’ is probably that celebrated cave where David with his six hundred followers lay concealed when Saul entered and David cut off the skirt of his robe. The king, accompanied by three thousand followers, chased him to the loftiest alpine heights -- ‘to the sheep-cotes,’ where the cattle were driven in the hottest summer months only -- to hunt him in every hiding place. There was a cave, in the darkened cool of which David and his men were hid. Such caves in Palestine and the East are frequently enlarged by human hands, and so capacious that they accommodate thousands of people. This song of complaint was written during the hours of suspense which David spent there, to wait until the calamity was overpast (verse 1); in which he only gradually gains a stout heart (verse 8). His life was really suspended by a hair if Saul or any of his attendants had espied him!"

As to the thoughts behind the title, we have John Flavel (1627 - 1691) for our guide: “This Psalm was composed, as the title notes, by David prayer-wise, when he hid himself from Saul in the cave, and is inscribed with a double title, Al-taschith, Michtam of David. Al-taschith refers to the scope, and Michtam to the dignity of the subject matter. The former signifies destroy not, or, let there be no slaughter; and may either refer to Saul, concerning whom he gave charge to his servants not to destroy him; or rather it hath reference to God, to whom in this great exigence he poured out his soul in this pathetical ejaculation; Al-taschith, destroy not.The latter title, Michtam, signifies a golden ornament, and so is suited to the choice and excellent matter of the Psalm, which much more deserves such a title than Pythagoras’ golden verses did."

THOUGHT: Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity.

PRAYER: May there not be any fear in me for Thou art ever near.