Psalm 57:10 - Printer Friendly

What does Psalm 57:10 mean?

ESV: For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

NIV: For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

NASB: For Your goodness is great to the heavens And Your truth to the clouds.

CSB: For your faithful love is as high as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches the clouds.

NLT: For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

KJV: For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.

NKJV: For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, And Your truth unto the clouds.

Verse Commentary:

In this psalm, David has asked for God's rescue, and confidently expected it will occur (Psalm 57:1–4). This inspired a series of comments about David's deep faith in the Lord (Psalm 57:7–9). Here, he adds two more motives for praising God. The phrasing here is much like that of Psalm 36:5, also written by David.

The first character trait for which David praises God in this verse is "steadfast love." The Hebrew term is checed, referring to God's enduring, patient love and care for His people. Some translations represent this as "mercy," or "lovingkindness," or "faithful love." The second character trait involves the root word 'emet, which most literally means "truth" but can also imply constancy or devotion. These attributes are said to exist "to" the clouds and heavens. Just as the modern English expression "sky high" implies something abnormally large, David indicates that God's merciful consistency towards His people is beyond measure.

Scripture makes great effort to explain the intensity of God's kind love for humanity. The Lord's love embraces the whole world and is why He provided His Son as the Savior (John 3:16). His love is undeserved. "God shows his love for us in that we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Nothing can separate believers from His love (Romans 8:38–39). His love is everlasting (Jeremiah 31:3). His love embodies all the noble qualities listed in 1 Corinthians 13. His love has given believers the privilege of being called His children (1 John 3:1). God's faithfulness is great (Lamentations 3:23). His faithfulness provides for every need (Matthew 6:33). His faithfulness provides a way of escape from temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). His faithfulness provides forgiveness when believers confess their sins (1 John 1:9). His faithfulness endures to all generations (Psalm 119:90).

Psalm 57:6–11 closes David's combination of prayer for deliverance with praise for God's expected rescue. Like the first section of the psalm, this section concludes with the refrain declaring the Lord's glory and praise over the entire world.

Chapter Summary:

David asks for God's merciful protection, with full confidence that it will be delivered. Despite the vicious attacks of his enemies, David resolves to praise the Lord. This is motivated, in part, by appreciation for God's loyal, merciful, caring love. He declares that the Lord's praise should be heard all over the world.

Chapter Context:

Along with Psalms 56 and 142, this was composed in response to David's escape from Saul (1 Samuel 19:1–2; 22:1). This included hiding in cave, where David turned down an opportunity to kill his enemy (1 Samuel 24:1–22). David is entirely sure that God will fulfill His promises (1 Samuel 16:12–13).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 11/21/2024 3:20:27 PM