How do we keep trusting God when everything in our lives seems to be going wrong? That was the challenge for David, who was on the run from King Saul, who was his own father-in-law. Even though years earlier God had promised that David would one day be king, at the time David wrote this psalm it didn’t look like he was destined for anything but execution as a traitor.

Yes, the logical response to the circumstances of his life would have been grief and fear and disappointment. But instead, David exalted God and gave Him glory (vv. 5 and 11). How could he do that?

Simply put, he was confident in Who God is. In verse 2, he reminds himself that God is Most High, the One Whose power is above and beyond our comprehension, the One Who could easily destroy David’s enemies. Moreover, he reminds himself that God is the One who completes everything for him. It is God’s amazing combination of unimaginable power and intimate relationship that gives David confidence, even if he couldn’t see any outward change in his life – yet.

For given Who God is and what God had promised him, David could be sure that his suffering was only temporary. In verse 1 he knows that destruction will eventually pass him by. In verse 3, he is confident that God would save him, that God would show His faithful, covenant-keeping love to David and demonstrate the truth of His promise to make David a king – one day.

But until that day, David would have to make a conscious choice to remain faithful to God. Yes, verses 4 and 6 indicate that he was still in terrible trouble, but nevertheless in verses 7-9 David insists that he would remain steadfast and sing God’s praise. No matter what was happening to him, he would give thanks to God.

Now, it couldn’t have been easy for David to sing songs of joy while he was hiding from his enemies in a cave. And maybe it won’t be easy for you today. But the God Whose love stretches to the heavens, the God Who loved sinners like us enough to sacrifice His only Son is worthy of our thanks. The God Whose truth reaches to the clouds, the God Who kept His promise to raise Jesus from the dead is worthy of our trust. So, let us sing His praise and give Him glory, even as we take refuge in the shadow of His wings.

Psalm 57 (NASB)

For the choir director; set to Al-tashheth. A Mikhtam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.
Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in Thee; And in the shadow of Thy wings I will take refuge, Until destruction passes by.
2 I will cry to God Most High, To God who accomplishes all things for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me; He reproaches him who tramples upon me. Selah. God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth.
4 My soul is among lions; I must lie among those who breathe forth fire, Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.
5 Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Thy glory be above all the earth.
6 They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They dug a pit before me; They themselves have fallen into the midst of it. Selah.
7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises!
8 Awake, my glory; Awake, harp and lyre, I will awaken the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to Thee among the nations.
10 For Thy lovingkindness is great to the heavens, And Thy truth to the clouds.
11 Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Thy glory be above all the earth.