Cave Song – Psalm 57

Agustus F. Tholuck summarized his thoughts on the value and virtues of Psalm 57 as follows: “A hard and ungrateful heart beholds even in prosperity only isolated drops of divine grace: but a grateful one like David's though chased by persecutors, and striking the harp in the gloom of the cave, looks upon the mercy and faithfulness of God as a mighty ocean, waving and heaving from the earth to the clouds, and from the clouds to the earth again.” While this is certainly the conclusion of David's prayers and meditations, there was nevertheless, a struggle to grasp and maintain this perspective. Psalm 57 joins 58, 59, and 75 with an interesting note of introduction in their titles which rings out like a desperate cry: “do not destroy!” David's song was tempered and hammered to exquisite quality in the fires of adversity and affliction. Spurgeon imagines David beginning His song despairingly in the dark depths of his cave retreat, then gradually emerging from the shadows until the sun rays of jubilant faith lift his countenance at the mouth of his bunker as he closes his song raising a melody heavenward of triumphant praise...