Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for in You my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of Your wings I will take shelter until the danger has passed. Sermons
I. RESCUE SORELY NEEDED. The enemies of the soul are represented as strong, crafty, and merciless. They are savage as "lions." They use guile and deceit, and "hunt every man his brother with a net" (Micah 7:2). Though they wound body and soul, this is not enough. Blood is what they want. If they had their will, they would cast the Joseph of their hate into the "pit," caring not if he perish miserably. In this world of sin and sorrow and temptation, we are always in danger; but there are times when peril comes closer, and "calamities" crowd on every side, leaving no way of escape. Happy are we if, in our helplessness and, fear, we "flee for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us"! II. RESCUE EARNESTLY SOUGHT. (Vers. 1-3.) Here is a difference between the ungodly and the godly. The ungodly seeks deliverance by his own devices; the godly seeks deliverance from God. He cries for rescue, not in his own way, but in the way that accords with God's character and will. When it comes, it must be in the line of "mercy and truth." What God was, he is. What God has done is earnest of what God will do. What God undertakes, he will carry out. Man promises more than he performs. God performs more than he promises. The nearer we get to God, the more clearly we see things in God's light. Our faith gains force and our hopes grow stronger. If dangers press, we cry with the more urgency for help. God is "able to do for us exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20). III. RESCUE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGED. (Vers. 7-11.) Religion is for the whole of life, but there are times when special services are proper. Deliverances wrought for us by God are not to be kept secret, but to be openly acknowledged. Our gratitude should be sincere, hearty, and demonstrative. Like the woman of Capernaum, who was healed of the issue of blood, we should yield to the gentle solicitings of love, and declare unto our Lord, before all the people, what he has done for us. Like the Samaritan cured of his leprosy, though alone, we should come with a full heart to God, and to give thanks for his goodness and wonderful works (Luke 8:47; Luke 17:18). How inspiring and comforting it is to read of the great deliverances which God wrought for David and the prophets, and for the saints of every land and tongue! When we remember these things, our hearts burn within us; for this God is our God, this Saviour is our Saviour. Nay, more; in thought of what God is and has done, we rise to the sight of the things not yet seen, and to the vision of the latter day when the kingdom shall not be limited to Israel, but the glory of the Lord shall fill the whole earth. - W.F.
When I cry unto Thee, then shall mine enemies turn back. Helps for the Pulpit. I. THIS PRAYER IMPLIES THE EXISTENCE OF CONFLICT. David was pursued from place to place by: his adversaries. The Christian, too, has many enemies. Within him and around him.II. THIS PRAYER SUPPOSES HELPLESSNESS. The enemies which the Christian has to fight are numerous, potent and subtle; and he is perfect weakness. III. A CONVICTION THAT THERE IS ALL NEEDFUL HELP IN GOD. IV. APPLICATION TO GOD FOR HELP. "I cry unto Thee." Make me a conqueror, etc. This cry we must consider as secret, earnest and constant, and connected with confidence. V. THIS PRAYER WAS SUCCESSFUL. "Then shall mine enemies turn back." This is expected from immutable promises (Isaiah 54:17; 2 Peter 3:9). God will cause our pursuing enemies to turn back, for can they fight with omnipotence? Or He will give unto us grace, Divine armour, to enable us to stand and conquer in the evil day. APPLICATION. 1. How great the privilege of having an interest in the Divine favour. 2. How exposed and wretched is the sinner. (Helps for the Pulpit.) People David, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Al-taschith, Al-tashheth, Calamities, Cave, Chief, Choirmaster, David, Destroy, Destruction, Disaster, Face, Favour, Fled, Fleeing, Flight, Gracious, Gt, Hole, Hope, Leader, Lt, Merciful, Mercy, Merdiful, Michtam, Miktam, Music, Musician, Music-maker, Myself, O, Overpast, Overseer, Pass, Passed, Passes, Past, Poem, Psalm, Refuge, Rock, Safely, Saul, Secret, Shade, Shadow, Soul, Storms, Takes, Taketh, Till, Treasure, Troubles, Trust, Trusteth, Trusting, Tune, Wings, Yea, YesOutline 1. David in prayer fleeing unto God, complains of his dangerous case7. He encourages himself to praise God Dictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 57:1 4690 wings 4218 cave Library June 5. "My Heart is Fixed, O God" (Ps. Lvii. 7). "My heart is fixed, O God" (Ps. lvii. 7). We do not always feel joyful, but we are always to count it joy. This word reckon is one of the keywords of Scripture. It is the same word used about our being dead. We are painfully conscious of something which would gladly return to life. But we are to treat ourselves as dead, and neither fear nor obey the old nature. So we are to reckon the thing that comes a blessing; we are determined to rejoice, to say, "My heart is fixed, Lord; I will sing and give … Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth The Fixed Heart January the Thirty-First under his Wings Strong Faith in a Faithful God The Truth of God The Mercy of God Grace and Holiness. Appendix 2 Extracts from the Babylon Talmud The Gospel Message, Good Tidings Psalms Links Psalm 57:1 NIVPsalm 57:1 NLT Psalm 57:1 ESV Psalm 57:1 NASB Psalm 57:1 KJV Psalm 57:1 Bible Apps Psalm 57:1 Parallel Psalm 57:1 Biblia Paralela Psalm 57:1 Chinese Bible Psalm 57:1 French Bible Psalm 57:1 German Bible Psalm 57:1 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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