Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!
David pours out his prayer in extremity, fleeing into the cave with danger pressing upon him. The psalm divides into two movements: first his urgent plea for mercy, then his confident rise to praise. We cannot settle what Al-tascheth means, whether it names a familiar tune or catches his own desperate cry, but either way, the inscription marks the circumstance of true anguish in which these words were born.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 57:1-11
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens. This is the chorus of the Psalm. Before he has quite concluded his prayer the good man interjects a verse of praise; and glorious praise too, seeing it comes from the lion's den and from amid the coals of fire. Higher than the heavens is the Most High, and so high ought our praises to rise.
The tune's name, 'Destroy not,' points to David's mercy when Saul lay defenseless in the cave, his servants begged to kill him, but David refused. God Himself set the same limit: Saul could pursue, but never destroy, for a blessing dwelt in David, even Christ Himself. What a heart he shows us, turning to God in prayer while surrounded by enemies, repeating his plea with true devotion: 'Be merciful to me, O Lord.'
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 57:1-6