Psalm 57

Psalm 57

Refuge

I.                    God alone is our only place of true refuge in life, so we must trust Him in the storms (Vv. 1-5)

a.       As David hides out in the cave under the constant pressure of pursuit and the threat of death at the hands of Saul and his men, his feelings of loneliness, powerlessness, and isolation are amplified and multiplied, so he cries out to God. David doesn’t downplay his circumstances or the threat to his life, he calls out to God and asks Him in His grace, to strengthen him and provide security for his soul. David knew that he was powerless on his own to endure or defeat the destruction at his doorstep. But his circumstances were products of this world, and God’s concern for him, love for him, and promises to him were eternal and provided refuge for David’s soul. David knew the storms would come and be fierce, but he sought refuge under God’s wings. Whether David was referring to the place of God’s presence in the wings of the cherubim atop the Ark of the Covenant in the Most Holy Place, or the symbolic wings of God which represent His protection and deliverance of His people, David’s prayerful cries to seeking refuge in God testify that even though he sought shelter in the cave, his trust for refuge was in God. By doing so, David had anchored himself in God’s unshakeable strength and turned his cave into a temple where he took refuge in the very presence of God. It was only in God’s presence, abiding in His strength, and trusting in His powerful, faithful, and loving provision that David could rest peacefully in true refuge until the storms passed, even as his adversaries sought to devour him. God will accomplish His will and plan for His glory and the greatest good of those who belong to Him. No strength of our own, no plan of mankind, no possession, no profession, no politician, no medical treatment, or vaccine will provide refuge for our souls. No earthly hiding place or human accommodation is sufficiently strong to provide true refuge, but no earthly difficulty, danger, or pressure is sufficiently strong to overcome the refuge available to us in God. God alone is our only place of true refuge in life. (Vv. 1-5; Exod. 19:4; 25:17-20; 37:9; Deut. 32:11; 1 Sam. 22:1-2; Ps. 4:8; 17:8; 36:7; 61:4; 63:6-7; 90:1-2; 91:1-4; 138:8; Dan. 6:22; Matt. 23:37; Luke 13:34; John 15:4-5; Rom. 8:18; Heb. 10:19-25)     

II.                 God alone is our only place of true refuge in life, so we must praise Him in the storms (Vv. 6-11)

a.       Truly trusting in God means more than just wishfully hoping everything turns out okay. Truly trusting in God in the storms of life means we must continually pursue His peace, continually identify His amazing works, and continually praise Him for who He is and what He does in a way that testifies to Him before the world around us. David knows that God will be faithful and just to deal with those who attack His servant, causing them to fall victim to their own wicked schemes. David’s heart is steadfast in the storm because his refuge is in God alone. As the waters of life have risen continually against him, and the winds of life’s storms have continually battered him, David has seen God lift him above the wind and rain time and time again, because He is bigger and more powerful than any storm which any of face. There are no positive thoughts or positive works which will provide us with true refuge or deliver us through life’s storms, but God will never fail. It’s not our natural response to grow more steadfast in the storms, but the more we intentionally and continually seek our refuge in God, the more steadfast in spirit we’ll become, and the more we’ll be moved to praise Him as He’s continually faithful to provide us with refuge. David bursts out into praise and thanksgiving to God for what God has done in his life. He paints a picture God’s selfless love and faithfulness pilling back up to the sky as He rains it down on us. David’s praise for God builds to a crescendo as he calls for God to manifest His glory in a way which is undeniable to all the earth; to do something so great and amazing that even those who might try to deny it or fight against it, won’t be able to escape God’s great and powerful glory. God did this when He sent His Son, who sacrificed Himself on the cross, atoned for our sin, and proved Himself our ultimate and eternal refuge. As we trust in the Person and work of Jesus Christ in repentant faith for salvation, continually cry out to Him in prayer for His grace, trust in Him, and praise Him before the nations, life’s worst storms will be turned into sanctuaries where His power and glory shine forth into and through our lives, and out into the dark world. (Vv. 6-11; Gen. 50:20; Exod. 14:13-15; Ps. 7:15; 9:15; 34:3; 35:7-9; 51:10-13; 108:1-5; 118:21-24; 119:5; Lam. 3:22-23; Hab. 2:14; Matt. 5:13-16; 28:18-20; John 3:16; Rom. 5:1-5; 8:28-39; 1 Cor. 10:31; Phil. 1:19-21)