One of God's rescues.
The Bible is full of records of deliverances, not only deliverances of nations, hut rescues of individuals. These things are "written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope" (Romans 15:4). We have in this psalm the story of one of God's rescues. We see—
I. RESCUE SORELY NEEDED. The enemies of the soul are represented as strong, crafty, and merciless. They are savage as "lions." They use guile and deceit, and "hunt every man his brother with a net" (Micah 7:2). Though they wound body and soul, this is not enough. Blood is what they want. If they had their will, they would cast the Joseph of their hate into the "pit," caring not if he perish miserably. In this world of sin and sorrow and temptation, we are always in danger; but there are times when peril comes closer, and "calamities" crowd on every side, leaving no way of escape. Happy are we if, in our helplessness and, fear, we "flee for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us"!
II. RESCUE EARNESTLY SOUGHT. (Psalms 57:1-3.) Here is a difference between the ungodly and the godly. The ungodly seeks deliverance by his own devices; the godly seeks deliverance from God. He cries for rescue, not in his own way, but in the way that accords with God's character and will. When it comes, it must be in the line of "mercy and truth." What God was, he is. What God has done is earnest of what God will do. What God undertakes, he will carry out. Man promises more than he performs. God performs more than he promises. The nearer we get to God, the more clearly we see things in God's light. Our faith gains force and our hopes grow stronger. If dangers press, we cry with the more urgency for help. God is "able to do for us exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20).
III. RESCUE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGED. (Psalms 57:7-11.) Religion is for the whole of life, but there are times when special services are proper. Deliverances wrought for us by God are not to be kept secret, but to be openly acknowledged. Our gratitude should be sincere, hearty, and demonstrative. Like the woman of Capernaum, who was healed of the issue of blood, we should yield to the gentle solicitings of love, and declare unto our Lord, before all the people, what he has done for us. Like the Samaritan cured of his leprosy, though alone, we should come with a full heart to God, and to give thanks for his goodness and wonderful works (Luke 8:47; Luke 17:18). How inspiring and comforting it is to read of the great deliverances which God wrought for David and the prophets, and for the saints of every land and tongue! When we remember these things, our hearts burn within us; for this God is our God, this Saviour is our Saviour. Nay, more; in thought of what God is and has done, we rise to the sight of the things not yet seen, and to the vision of the latter day when the kingdom shall not be limited to Israel, but the glory of the Lord shall fill the whole earth.—W.F.