Psalm 57:3
He reaches down from heaven and saves me; He rebukes those who trample me. Selah God sends forth His loving devotion and His truth.
He reaches down from heaven and saves me;
This phrase emphasizes God's transcendence and immanence. The imagery of God reaching down from heaven suggests His supreme authority and power, yet His willingness to intervene in human affairs. This reflects the biblical theme of divine deliverance, as seen in Exodus 3:8, where God comes down to rescue the Israelites from Egypt. The act of saving is central to God's character, as He is often depicted as a deliverer throughout the Psalms and the Old Testament. This also foreshadows the ultimate salvation through Jesus Christ, who descended from heaven to save humanity (John 3:13-17).

He rebukes those who trample me.
The rebuke of enemies is a common theme in the Psalms, where God is portrayed as a defender of the righteous. This phrase suggests divine justice and protection, as God actively opposes those who oppress His people. The concept of God as a warrior who fights on behalf of His people is seen in passages like Exodus 15:3 and Isaiah 42:13. The term "trample" indicates a severe form of oppression, highlighting the intensity of the conflict and the need for divine intervention.

Selah
The term "Selah" is often found in the Psalms and is thought to be a musical or liturgical pause, inviting the reader or listener to reflect on the preceding words. It serves as a moment to meditate on God's saving power and justice, allowing the weight of the message to resonate deeply. This pause encourages contemplation of God's faithfulness and the assurance of His protection.

God sends forth His loving devotion and His truth.
This phrase underscores two key attributes of God: His loving devotion (often translated as "steadfast love" or "mercy") and His truth (or "faithfulness"). These attributes are central to God's covenant relationship with His people, as seen in Exodus 34:6, where God describes Himself as "abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." The sending forth of these qualities indicates God's active involvement in the world, ensuring that His promises are fulfilled. This also points to the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ, who embodies God's love and truth (John 1:14, 17).

Persons / Places / Events
1. David
The author of this Psalm, traditionally believed to be King David, who often wrote during times of distress and sought God's deliverance.

2. Heaven
Represents the divine realm from which God sends help and salvation.

3. Enemies/Those who trample
Refers to the adversaries or oppressors of David, who seek to harm him.

4. God
The central figure who provides salvation, rebukes enemies, and sends forth loving devotion and truth.

5. Selah
A term used in the Psalms, possibly indicating a pause for reflection or emphasis on the preceding statement.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereign Intervention
God actively intervenes in the lives of His people, sending help from heaven in times of need.

The Power of Divine Rebuke
God not only saves but also rebukes those who oppose His people, demonstrating His authority over all.

Loving Devotion and Truth
God's loving devotion (Hebrew: "chesed") and truth (Hebrew: "emet") are central to His character and actions, providing a foundation for trust and hope.

Reflective Pause (Selah)
The use of "Selah" invites believers to pause and meditate on God's faithfulness and the assurance of His deliverance.

Practical Trust in God's Deliverance
Believers are encouraged to trust in God's timing and methods of deliverance, knowing that He is faithful to His promises.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding God's "loving devotion and truth" impact your daily walk with Him?

2. In what ways can you identify God's intervention in your life, similar to how David experienced it?

3. How can the concept of "Selah" be incorporated into your personal prayer and meditation practices?

4. What are some practical steps you can take to trust in God's deliverance when facing opposition or challenges?

5. How do other scriptures, such as John 14:6 and Psalm 91, enhance your understanding of God's truth and protection?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 91
This Psalm also speaks of God's protection and deliverance from enemies, emphasizing His faithfulness and truth as a shield.

John 14:6
Jesus describes Himself as "the way, the truth, and the life," connecting to the theme of God's truth being sent forth.

Exodus 34:6
God's loving devotion (often translated as "steadfast love" or "mercy") is a recurring theme in His self-revelation to Moses.

Hebrews 1:14
Discusses angels as ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation, paralleling the idea of God sending help from heaven.

2 Samuel 22:17-20
David recounts God's deliverance from his enemies, illustrating the personal experience of divine intervention.
Mercy and TruthW. Forsyth Psalm 57:3
Christ Our RefugeL. Shorey.Psalm 57:1-11
Expectation and Assurance of DeliveranceC. Short Psalm 57:1-11
One of God's RescuesW. Forsyth Psalm 57:1-11
Sorrowful, Yet Always RejoicingJ. Stalker, D. D.Psalm 57:1-11
Spiritual ExperimentalismHomilistPsalm 57:1-11
People
David, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Covered, Desire, Destruction, Faith, Faithfulness, Forth, Heaven, Heavens, Hotly, Kindness, Love, Loving, Lovingkindness, Loving-kindness, Mercy, Panting, Power, Pursue, Pursuing, Rebukes, Rebuking, Reproach, Reproached, Reproaches, Reproacheth, Save, Saves, Saveth, Selah, Sends, Shame, Steadfast, Swallow, Taunteth, Trample, Tramples, Truth
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 57:3

     8666   praise, manner and methods

Psalm 57:1-6

     5086   David, rise of

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
'My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise.'--PSALM lvii. 7. It is easy to say such things when life goes smoothly with us. But this Psalmist, whether David or another, says this, and means it, when all things are dark and frowning around him. The superscription attributes the words to David himself, fleeing from Saul, and hiding in the cave. Whether that be so or no, the circumstances under which the Psalmist sings are obviously those of very great difficulty and oppression.
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

January the Thirty-First under his Wings
"In the shadow of Thy wings will I make my refuge." --PSALM lvii. Could anything be more tenderly gracious than this figure of hiding under the shadow of God's wings? It speaks of bosom-warmth, and bosom-shelter, and bosom-rest. "Let me to Thy bosom fly!" And what strong wings they are! Under those wings I am secure even from the lions. My animal passions shall not hurt me when I am "hiding in God." The fiercest onslaughts of the devil are powerless to break those mighty wings. The tenderest little
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Strong Faith in a Faithful God
DAVID was in the cave of Adullam. He had fled from Saul, his remorseless foe; and had found shelter in the clefts of the rock. In the beginning of this psalm he rings the alarm-bell, and very loud is the sound of it. "Be merciful unto me," and then the clapper hits the other side of the bell. "Be merciful unto me." He utters his misery again and again. "My soul trusteth in thee; yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast." Thus he solaces himself by
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 61: 1915

The Truth of God
The next attribute is God's truth. A God of truth and without iniquity; just and right is he.' Deut 32:4. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.' Psa 57:10. Plenteous in truth.' Psa 86:15. I. God is the truth. He is true in a physical sense; true in his being: he has a real subsistence, and gives a being to others. He is true in a moral sense; he is true sine errore, without errors; et sine fallacia, without deceit. God is prima veritas, the pattern and prototype
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Mercy of God
The next attribute is God's goodness or mercy. Mercy is the result and effect of God's goodness. Psa 33:5. So then this is the next attribute, God's goodness or mercy. The most learned of the heathens thought they gave their god Jupiter two golden characters when they styled him good and great. Both these meet in God, goodness and greatness, majesty and mercy. God is essentially good in himself and relatively good to us. They are both put together in Psa 119:98. Thou art good, and doest good.' This
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Grace and Holiness.
"Now God Himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."--1 THESS. iii. 11-13. There are few more precious subjects for meditation and imitation than the prayers and intercessions of the great Apostle.
W. H. Griffith Thomas—The Prayers of St. Paul

Appendix 2 Extracts from the Babylon Talmud
Massecheth Berachoth, or Tractate on Benedictions [76] Mishnah--From what time is the "Shema" said in the evening? From the hour that the priests entered to eat of their therumah [77] until the end of the first night watch. [78] These are the words of Rabbi Eliezer. But the sages say: Till midnight. Rabban Gamaliel says: Until the column of the morning (the dawn) rises. It happened, that his sons came back from a banquet. They said to him: "We have not said the Shema.'" He said to them, "If the column
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Gospel Message, Good Tidings
[As it is written] How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! T he account which the Apostle Paul gives of his first reception among the Galatians (Galatians 4:15) , exemplifies the truth of this passage. He found them in a state of ignorance and misery; alienated from God, and enslaved to the blind and comfortless superstitions of idolatry. His preaching, accompanied with the power of the Holy Spirit, had a great and marvellous effect.
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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