Psalm 57:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!

NIV: Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

NASB: Be exalted above the heavens, God; May Your glory be above all the earth.

CSB: God, be exalted above the heavens; let your glory be over the whole earth.

NLT: Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens! May your glory shine over all the earth.

KJV: Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.

NKJV: Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth.

When this psalm was written, David was on the run from the murderous King Saul (1 Samuel 19:1–2; 22:1; 24:2–3). Despite that danger (Psalm 57:1–2, 4), David was confident in the Lord's promises (Psalm 57:3). Though he was not yet king, David knew this was his destiny (1 Samuel 16:11–13). Here, he uses a refrain found also in the psalm's last verse (Psalm 57:11). Danger might inspire fear (Psalm 55:4–6), but believers have no reason to despair. Instead, they can respond to fearful moments in grateful faith (1 Thessalonians 5:8).

Praise and honor for God are cornerstone purposes for which mankind was created. Earthly rulers should seek to advance God's glory, just as David did. David also prayed that God would fill the earth with His glory. Since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, human beings carry a marred image of God and the world languishes under a curse. The apostle Paul writes: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). He describes all nature as experiencing "bondage to corruption" (Romans 8:21). He observes that it "has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth" (Romans 8:22). This disastrous situation will change when Jesus returns to earth. When He rules the earth, God's glory will be revealed and the entire human race will see it (Isaiah 40:5).

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.