Tehillim 57 Orthodox Jewish Bible
57 (For the one directing. Set to Do Not Destroy. Mikhtam of Dovid, when he had fled from Sha’ul into the me’arah [cave]). Channeni, O Elohim, channeni; for my nefesh taketh refuge in Thee; yes, in the tzel (shadow) of Thy wings will I make my refuge, until these devastations pass by.
2 (3) I will cry out unto Elohim Elyon; unto El that fulfilleth all things for me.
3 (4) He shall send from Shomayim, and save me from the disgrace of him that would swallow me up. Selah. Elohim shall send forth His chesed (lovingkindness) and His emes (truth).
4 (5) My nefesh is among lions, and I lie even among them that devour Bnei Adam, whose shinayim (teeth) are spears and khitzim (arrows), and their leshon a sharp cherev.
5 (6) Be Thou exalted, O Elohim, above Shomayim; let Thy kavod be above kol ha’aretz.
6 (7) They have prepared a reshet (net) for my steps; my nefesh is bowed down; they have dug a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves. Selah.
7 (8) My lev is nachon (steadfast), O Elohim, my lev is nachon; I will sing and make music.
8 (9) Awake, my kavod (glory, soul, life); awake, nevel and kinnor; I myself will awake the shachar (dawn).
9 (10) I will give thanks unto Thee, Adonoi, among the peoples; I will sing of Thee among the peoples.
10 (11) For Thy chesed is gadol unto Shomayim, and Thy emes unto the heights.
11 (12) Be Thou exalted, O Elohim, above Shomayim; let Thy kavod be above kol ha’aretz (all the earth).
The Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
We are diving deeper into the Word of God today, taking a journey back in time to a cave (fortress) in Adullam, where a young David was hiding from King Saul.
Cave of Adullam was originally a stronghold referred to in the Old Testament, near the town of Adullam, where future King David sought refuge from King Saul. The word “cave” is usually used but “fortress”, which also has a similar appearance in writing, is used as well.
During this period, David passed up several opportunities to kill Saul, who in turn was attempting to kill his young rival, whose followers believed had been chosen by God to succeed King Saul.
It was in this cave David penned these profound words of Psalm 57, a psalm ringing with faith, hope, and unshakeable trust in God’s protection, provision, and presence.
Charles Spurgeon once said, “I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.”
Isn’t that so true, church?
Even in our darkest times, God is there.
He’s our rock and our refuge.
He’s the One we can embrace when the waves of life threaten to knock us down.
David, even in this seemingly hopeless situation, found solace and protection in God.
This is a powerful testament to God’s unwavering protection, a theme that resonates throughout the Bible and even in our lives today.
The cave’s symbolism: The cave, in many ways, symbolizes the trials and tribulations we all face.
It’s dark, it’s cold, and it’s isolating.
It’s a place where fear and uncertainty can easily take hold in that darkness.
Yet, it’s in this very place which David found God’s protection.
He was not alone in the cave or fortress; God was with him.
This is a profound reminder for us no matter how dark our circumstances may seem, God is there.
He’s our protector,
He’s our shield,
He’s our fortress.
His presence is a refuge of strength where we can find safety and security.
His protection:
Verse 1 says, “I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by.”
The imagery of hiding beneath God’s wings brings to mind a mother bird shielding her young from predators.
This is the kind of protection God offers us – a protection that is nurturing, comforting, encompassing and secure.
It’s a protection that doesn’t merely shield us from predators, but also provides us with the unshakeable assurance that we are also cared for and utterly loved.
His deliverance:
David was confident that God would not only protect him but also deliver him from his enemies.
This is echoed in verse 3, “He will send help from heaven to rescue me, disgracing those who hound me.”
God’s protection is not passive; it’s active.
He doesn’t just shield us from harm; He fights for us.
He steps into our battles and brings about victory.
Extends to our emotional and spiritual well-being:
In the cave, David was not just hiding from Saul’s physical threats, but he was also wrestling with feelings of fear, anxiety, and despair.
Yet, in the midst of this emotional turmoil, David found peace and comfort in God’s presence.
This reminds us that God’s protection encompasses our whole being. He guards our hearts and minds, providing us with peace that surpasses all understanding.
Our own ‘cave experiences’: We can draw strength from David’s example.
We can look to God for protection, knowing that He is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
We can rest in His promises, confident that He will deliver us from our enemies and provide us with peace in the midst of our storms.
God’s Provision
In the midst of David’s distress, he found solace in the provision of God.
This is a profound truth that we must grasp – God’s provision is not limited to our times of peace and prosperity.
In fact, it is often in the cave, in the midst of our trials and tribulations, that God’s provision becomes most evident.
His purpose:
David cries out to God Most High, “to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.”
Even in the cave, David understood that God had a purpose for his life.
He knew that his current circumstances were not just an accident, but a part of God’s divine plan.
This is a comforting thought for us today.
No matter what we are going through, we can trust that God has a purpose for our lives and He will fulfill it.
His promise:
David declares, “He will send help from heaven to rescue me, disgracing those who hound me. My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.”
Even in the darkness and hidden depths of the cave, David was confident in God’s promises.
He knew that God would send help from heaven, that He would find him, that He would rescue him, and that His love and faithfulness would never fail.
Watchman Nee once said:
“Outside of Christ, I am weak; in Christ, I am strong. Outside of Christ, I cannot; in Christ, I am more than able.” His strength becomes our strength. His provision becomes our provision. His victory becomes our victory.
He is our God, and He will provide.
God’s Presence
David, in the midst of his fear and uncertainty, was acutely aware of God’s presence with him in the cave.
David’s words reveal a deep sense of God’s nearness, even in the midst of his having to elude Saul’s forces.
David’s confidence in God’s presence:
“I will cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.”
This is a powerful declaration of faith, asserting that God is not only present, but continually active working in David’s life to fulfill His divine purpose.
Even in the deepest recesses of that cave, David understood that God was with him, guiding his steps and working out His plan.
David’s plea for mercy:
This is in the opening verse of the psalm and is a testament to his belief in God’s presence and his reliance on God’s compassion and grace.
He knew that he could always call out to God in his distress and that God would hear him. No matter how dire our circumstances may seem, we can always call out to God, confident in His presence and His willingness to show us all mercy.
His presence is our refuge, our comfort, and our hope.
Conclusion
What a journey David had then, and what a journey our Church has today!
We have walked into David’s cave, touched his cold fear, shared in his faith.
There is a multitude of caves from which we can seek refuge from our enemy.
Prayerfully, we’ve learned that even in the darkest of caves, God’s mercy and God’s protection are unwavering. He is our rock, our refuge, and our rescuer.
So, as we have now received His wisdom, look at what is going on when we go out into the world this week, let’s remember to cling to our Rock of Ages, no matter what fears today’s pursuing armies of Saul may threaten us all with.
Let’s embrace trust in His unfailing mercy and faithfulness, just like David did.
Remember, Saul’s envy, his jealousy, his anger, blood lust can have no effect. God’s true purpose for us will always be fulfilled, even in the midst of our trials.
The God of hope is already inside your cave, filling you with His Presence as you come to renewed faith in Him, warm your heart by the power of the Holy Spirit.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit …
Tehillim 121 Orthodox Jewish Bible
121 (Shir HaMa’alot) I will lift up mine eyes unto the harim (hills), from whence cometh ezri (my help).
2 Ezri (my help) cometh from Hashem, Oseh Shomayim v’Aretz.
3 He will not allow thy regel to slip; He that is shomer over thee will not slumber.
4 Hinei, He that is shomer over Yisroel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 Hashem is the One shomer over thee; Hashem is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The shemesh shall not strike thee by day, nor the yarei’ach by night.
7 Hashem shall preserve thee from kol rah; He shall preserve thy nefesh.
8 Hashem shall be shomer over thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even v’ad olam.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 