Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
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
My glory, my soul, every noble power within me must rouse itself for this work. Let intellect, tongue, and imagination all be alert, all my music well-tuned for the hallowed service of praise. I will awaken the dawn with joyous notes, not sleepy verses, my best is scarcely fit for His deserts, so let indolence not cheapen it further.
AI summary
Prayer, when it works by true faith, turns at once into praise; sackcloth is loosed and replaced with gladness. The heart must be fixed first, prepared for every event by being stayed on God, before the tongue can truly sing His glory.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 57:7-11