Psalm 57 – “Petition/Vow”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The psalmist asks God to save him and vows to praise God in the future.

II. Photo
The psalmist describes his situation: “As for me, I lie down among man-eating lions whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongue is a sharp sword!” (v. 5)

III. Select Verses    
2: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for I seek refuge in You, I seek refuge in the shadow of Your wings, until danger passes.
4: As for me, I lie down among man-eating lions whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongue is a sharp sword.
7: They prepared a net for my feet to ensnare me; they dug a pit for me, but they fell into it. Selah.
8-11: My heart is firm, O God; my heart is firm; I will sing, I will chant a hymn. Awake, O my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will wake the dawn. I will praise You among the peoples, O LORD; I will sing a hymn to You among the nations; for Your faithfulness is as high as heaven; Your steadfastness reaches to the sky.

IV. Outline
1. Historical superscription
2a. Invocation, initial petition
2b. Rationale = affirmation of confidence
3-4. Petition/wish
5. Complaint
6. Refrain = hymnic petition
7. Complaint
8a. Affirmation of confidence
8b-11. Vow
12. Refrain = hymnic petition

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Gerstenberger, Erhard S. “Psalms Part 1 with an Introduction to Cultic Poetry” Forms of Old Testament Literature (Michigan: Eerdmans, 1988).
Tate, Marvin. “Psalms 51-100” Word Biblical Commentary vol. 20 (Waco, Texas: Wordbooks, 1990).
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