Psalm 57:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

NIV: He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me— God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.

NASB: He will send from heaven and save me; He rebukes the one who tramples upon me. Selah God will send His favor and His truth.

CSB: He reaches down from heaven and saves me, challenging the one who tramples me. Selah God sends his faithful love and truth.

NLT: He will send help from heaven to rescue me, disgracing those who hound me. Interlude My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.

KJV: He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

NKJV: He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.

David was confident God would reach down from heaven and rescue him from Saul (1 Samuel 19:1–2; 22:1; 24:2–3). Further, he was assured God would work against David's enemies. This anticipation of God's work demonstrates David's deep faith. Even faced with great fear (Psalm 55:4–6), David chose God as the anchor for his hope (Psalm 57:1–2). He relies on the "steadfast love" of God. This comes from the important Hebrew word checed, which represents the Lord's reliable, dependable care for His people.

David anticipates God's loyal love and faithfulness reaching him. Though hated by Saul, an earthly king, David was greatly loved by God Most High, the heavenly King. Early in life, God indicated His special purposes for David (1 Samuel 16:11–13). This gave David tremendous confidence, knowing the Lord had greater plans for him. Later, God would offer more explicit prophecies about David's throne and his descendants (2 Samuel 7:12–16).

In every situation the believer can count on the fact that God loves him and keeps His promises. God's loyal love caused the apostle John to exclaim, "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are" (1 John 3:1). It was God's faithfulness that caused Paul to rejoice "in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began" (Titus 1:2).

This verse also uses the term selah, which seems to indicate a pause or moment of reflection.

In these opening verses of Psalm 57 David asks God to be merciful to him, and he declares that God is his refuge. When David composed this psalm, he was hiding in a cave from vengeful King Saul, but he was trusting in God for safety until the storm of Saul's wrath ended. He knew God had a purpose for his life and would deliver him from Saul. Although his enemies sought to kill him, he longed for God to exalt Himself.

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.

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.