Psalms 57

David cries to God for mercy, with the strongest confidence of being heard, Psalm 57:1-3 ; he describes his enemies as lions, Psalm 57:4 ; thanks God for his deliverance, Psalm 57:5 ; and purposes to publish the praises of the Lord among his people, Psalm 57:6-11 .

The title is, To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, (destroy not), a golden Psalms of David, (or one to be engraven), where he fed from Saul in the cave. It is very likely that this Psalm was made to commemorate his escape from Saul in the cave of En-gedi, where Saul had entered without knowing that David was there, and David cut off the skirt of his garment. And it is not improbable that, when he found that Saul was providentially delivered into his hand, he might have formed the hasty resolution to take away his life, as his companions counselled him to do; and in that moment the Divine monition came, תשצת אל al tascheth ! Destroy not! lift not up thy hand against the Lord's anointed! Instead, therefore, of taking away his life, he contented himself with taking away his skirt, to show him that he had been in his power. When, afterwards, he composed the Psalm, he gave it for title the words which he received as a Divine warning. See the history 1 Samuel 24 (note): See also my note upon the fourth verse of that chapter, 1 Samuel 24:4 ; (note).