Praising Scripture - Dec 11

Annual Bible Reading Plan:

AMO.9
ACT.23

2024 31-Day Praising Day 11:

Day 11: Awaken Your Spirit to Praise God （Psalm 57:1–11）
(Memorization Scripture 7–11)

To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave.
1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!
4 My soul is in the midst of lions;
I lie down amid fiery beasts—
the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!
6 They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
8 Awake, my glory!
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!

Reflection:
Psalm 57 is one of David's renowned “Cave Psalms,” written during his time of fleeing from Saul and hiding in a cave. David’s prayer begins with a plea for God’s mercy, asking to find refuge under His wings until the calamity has passed. Yet, as his prayer progresses, it shifts to a declaration of trust in "God Most High"—the One who fulfills His purpose for David. This trust strengthens David's faith and uplifts his spirit, turning his focus toward praising God's exalted glory among all nations.
The key to David's transformation from despair to spiritual fervor lies in his ultimate reliance not on the cave as his shelter, but on God Himself. Through faith, he entrusts his situation to God, recognizing that his greatest challenge is not external—his enemies or the environment—but internal: whether his heart remains steadfast and his spirit (translated as "glory" or "tongue") is awake to praise.
When David’s focus shifts from his circumstances to the greatness of God, whose “steadfast love is great to the heavens” and “faithfulness to the clouds,” he receives peace and confidence. From that place of assurance, he composes a song of victory and glory while still in the cave.
What a beautiful and inspiring testimony for us! In our daily prayers and praises, let us awaken our hearts and spirits in the same way: “My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!” Such practices will surely transform our lives, moving us from passively waiting for dawn (or for “the storms of destruction to pass”) to actively ushering in the morning with our prayer and praise!