417. Saturday after Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity.
Psalm 57. To the chief Musician, Al-taschith, Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave. Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast. I will cry unto God Most High; unto God that performeth all things for me. He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth. My soul is among lions; and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth. They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digged a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah. My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp; I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people; I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.
❦
It was “in the cave” that David sang this “Michtam,” this golden song. “My soul,” he says, “is among lions; and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down; they have digged a pit before me.” In this dark cave he nevertheless tunes his harp, and is awake early, not to make complaint, but to offer praise. With his rejoicing he ushers in the morning; he sings praises to God before the rising of the sun. In the very jaws of his voracious enemies he lifts up his voice in song, that it may be heard among all nations; and the sound of it still fills the world. The secret of his exultation appears at the opening and the closing of the psalm: “Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me!” “For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.” Here, again, two things are especially to be noted: 1) He puts his trust in mercy; and thus his own unworthiness does not stand in his way. No matter how great a sinner he may be, he can confidently expect the Lord to save him. 2) His hope is in God alone. God is the Most High; and his power is as much greater than that of all his enemies, as heaven is high above the earth. God has begun to help him; this much he has experienced repeatedly; and God does nothing by halves; he “performeth all things for me.” As the mercy of God is great, so is his truth also. He does not permit deceit and wickedness to swallow up the innocent; but keeps his promise, and delivers all who in hope walk honestly before him.
The fact that David under these desperate circumstances was able to sing such a song of praise without a single note of complaint, shows clearly, that while afflictions may depress, and good fortune may lift up the soul, yet these things do not constitute our unhappiness and our joy. May we also learn this golden song, the secret of being able to praise and exalt God even in the dark cave! If you cannot be merry, you shall at least receive grace to be stout-hearted, contented, and grateful. “Rejoice in the Lord alway,” says Paul. This is God’s will. May he to this end give us the grace of his Holy Spirit, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.*
Beset with snares on every hand,
In life’s uncertain path I stand:
Savior divine! diffuse thy light,
To guide my doubtful footsteps right.
If thou, my Jesus, still be nigh,
Cheerful I live, and joyful die:
Secure, when mortal comforts flee,
To find ten thousand worlds in thee.
[suggested tune: Duke Street (TLH 511) ×2; listen here]
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.