詩篇第五七篇與前一篇在風格和內容上都非常相似（兩者都表達對上帝的最高信心）；因此，它也許是前一篇的續篇；至於寫成的時間，正如題目所示，當大衛離開迦特，逃到亞杜蘭山洞躲避掃羅時，他心有所感寫下這一詩篇（撒上22：1）。這一詩篇的起頭與第五六篇的相同，但是在這一篇中，大衛懇求上帝憐憫他，因為掃羅及他的手下在追殺他；不過，他並沒有犯下任何錯誤（參看59：3~4）。

        雖然大衛躲在山洞中，他知道真正安全的庇護所是在上帝翅膀的陰影下。那些想要吞噬他的獅子要先與上帝戰爭，打敗上帝，然後才能抓到他，但是獅子是不可能打敗上帝的！大衛也明白，上帝跟他的事還沒有完，因為上帝已揀選了他，膏立他為王；因此，沒有任何致命的傷害會臨在他的身上。大衛信心十足地呼求上帝，說：「至高的上帝……就是為我成全諸事」（57：2）。上帝是最高的統治者，為信靠祂的人成就好事。上帝要怎樣拯救大衛呢？「上帝必向他發出慈愛和誠實」（57：3下）。派遣耶穌臨世乃是上帝憐憫世人的最有力證據，以及耶穌就是上帝真理的最具體表現，也就是說，上帝藉著耶穌賜給人類最後的救恩：靈魂的救恩。

        即使大衛身處最大的危險中，他也能用優美的詩句讚美上帝。耶和華上帝──天地的創造主──高過祂所彰顯的一切榮耀（57：5~7）。在想到上帝的偉大之後，大衛就有了安全的感覺，並且他的心堅定在上帝的身上。就像一棵根深蒂固的大樹一樣，即使他四周有強烈的風暴，他也不動搖，因為上帝穩固了他（比較55：22）。這些思想促使大衛全心全意讚美上帝，向所有的人喊出上帝的憐憫與真理。他要用歡呼上帝的救恩，使人們「甦醒」。

        詩篇第五八篇是描述大衛對地上司法系統的不公感到傷悲，大衛使用諷刺的話語，強烈地譴責腐敗的法官，因為他使法律成為笑話，顛倒是非，以及使義人受到傷害。他們的話就像毒藥一樣，會使人們慢慢地死去。就像所有的人一樣，他們出生時就帶有原罪，但是他們還沒有將他們自己託付給上帝的救贖聖工；他們並沒有察覺，他們自孩提時起就有了罪的傾向。因此，他們都成了邪惡的人，心也硬了，聽不到他們良心的聲音（58：3~5）。

        大衛出於義憤，一再咒詛顛倒是非的法官，早一點死去。他宣稱，上帝的烈怒很快就會臨在他們的身上，而且出於他們的意料之外，他們在烹調他們的食物，預備吃食，但是在他們拿起食物，正要入口時，上帝的烈怒就像一陣旋風似的臨在他們的身上，而且他們也不再活在地上（58：9）。由於惡人受到如此嚴厲的審判，義人很高興看到上帝的旨意得到成就。基於這一點，所有的人都要知道，上帝終究要審判全地，地上將不再有邪惡的事；最後，義人要興旺、且得獎賞。

        在詩篇第五九篇中，大衛迫切地祈求上帝保護他，釋放他，拯救他脫離掃羅派來殺害他的兇殘殺手。大衛為他的無辜辯護，說他沒有犯過任何錯誤。犯錯的是掃羅，因為他嫉妒大衛及他的名聲（59：3~4）。掃羅的兇殘部下就像被人輕視的，專吃腐肉的狗。在那些日子裡，異教徒（外邦人）都被指為狗，因此，這些人都是被雇的外國傭兵。他們潛入大衛的家中，等候他們的獵物出現，但是大衛事先已受到警告；在他的妻子米甲──掃羅的女兒──的幫助下，他們為大衛訂了一個逃跑的計劃（撒上19：11~17）。掃羅的手下都是兇狠的人，不敬畏上帝，所以他們的行為毫無拘束。不過，上帝嘲笑他們的愚蠢與徒勞，因為有一天他們都會受到審判，並且看到上帝的烈怒（59：7~8）。大衛相信他會得到上帝的拯救，他會看到他們遭到報應（59：10下）。然而大衛要求，他們不要很快滅亡；他要他們的謊言暴露，並且作為榜樣，好使所有的人看到他們悲慘的情況，並且知道，上帝要統治，也要審判惡人（59：11~13）。

        惡人咆哮怒號，想要滿足他們的殘暴本性，但是大衛依然愉快地頌讚耶和華，也感謝祂「在早晨的憐憫」（59：16）。在那個特殊的早晨，掃羅已經計劃殺害大衛（撒上19：11上），但是上帝干預他的計謀，拯救了大衛。大衛頌讚上帝的話都是真實的，而且所有上帝的兒女都應讚美上帝！祂就是我們的保護，我們的庇護所，我們的力量，以及我們的憐憫（59：16~17）。

        親愛的主，感謝您，因為我們在您的裡面有安全。世上沒有一個地方會比在您的膀臂裡更安全。不論我們的遭遇如何，願我們都能學習在您的膀臂裡安息。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

English

        Psalm 57 and the preceding psalm are quite similar in style as well as content (both express utmost confidence in God); therefore, it is probably a continuation and the occasion of the psalm, as mentioned in the title, is when David had fled to hide from Saul in the cave of Adullam after leaving Gath (1 Samuel 22:1). Psalm 57 begins with the same words as Psalm 56, but here David's cry for mercy is because Saul and his men are seeking to kill him, and yet he had done no wrong (see 59:3-4).

        Although David is hiding in a cave, he knows his real refuge is under the shadow of God's wings. Those lions who seek to swallow him up will first have to fight and defeat God to get at him, but that is impossible! David is also aware that God is not finished with him yet, for God had chosen and anointed him to be king; therefore no fatal harm could possibly come to him. David had the faith to call upon his Lord, saying, "God Most High.. .who fulfils his purpose for me" (57:2, N.I.V). God is sovereign and providentially works all things out for the good of his children who trust in Him. How would God save David? "God shall send forth His mercy and His truth" (57:3b). Sending Jesus into the world was the greatest evidence of God's mercy, and Jesus was the embodiment of God's truth, through whom He brought the ultimate salvation to mankind: the salvation of souls.

        Even though David was amid great danger, he could still sing forth beautiful words of praise to God. The God who was the Creator of the heavens and earth is exalted far above these wonderful manifestations of His glory (57:5-7). After considering God's greatness, David feels secure and his heart is steadfastly fixed upon God. Like a firmly rooted tree, even though a storm rages around him, he cannot be moved, since God has planted him (cf. 55:22). These thoughts make David want to praise God with his whole being and sing out God's mercy and truth to all people. He wants to "awaken the dawn" by shouting joyfully about the salvation of God.

        Psalm 58 is a lament of David over the prevalence of injustice in the judicial system of the land. With sarcastic words, David strongly condemns the corrupt judges who have made a mockery of the Law, perverted justice, and hurt the spread of godliness in the land. Their words are like poison that slowly kills. Like all mankind, they were born with original sin, but they have not committed themselves to the redemptive work of God; so their tendency to sin has continued on unchecked since their childhood. Therefore they have become wicked, having hardened their hearts to the voice of conviction within their consciences (58:.3-5).

        With righteous indignation, David repeatedly curses the perverted judges who do not deserve to live. He proclaims that God's wrath will come upon them quickly and unexpectedly. They might be cooking food and preparing to eat, but before they taste of their labour, God's burning wrath will come upon them like a whirlwind, and they will no longer be in the land of the living (58:9). With this fierce judgment of the wicked, the righteous will be glad to see the will of God accomplished. By this, all the world will know that there is indeed a God who stands in judgment of the earth and that wickedness will not prevail, but the righteous will prevail and be rewarded.

        In Psalm 59, David urgently cries out to the Lord to deliver, defend, and save him from the bloodthirsty men whom Saul had sent to assassinate him. David, however, protests of his innocence, for he had done no wrong. The wrong was with Saul, who was jealous of David and his popularity (59:3-4). Saul's violent, unscrupulous men were likened to despised scavenger dogs. In those days, the pagans (Gentiles) were commonly referred to as dogs; therefore, these men might have been foreign mercenaries. They stalked David's house, waiting for their prey to come out, but David had been forewarned and, with the help of his wife Michal, the daughter of Saul, they devised a plan for him to escape (1 Samuel 19:11-17). These immoral men of Saul did not fear God, so they behaved without restraint. God, however, laughed at their folly and futility, for one day they would be judged and see His wrath (59:7-8). David believed he would be delivered and live to see them consumed (59:10b). Yet David asked that they not perish too quickly; he wanted their lies to be exposed and for them to serve as examples, that all might see their misery and know that God reigns supremely and will indeed judge wickedness (59:11-13),

        The evil men growled and howled, wanting to satisfy their thirst for blood, but David joyously continued to sing praises to God and thank Him for His "mercy in the morning" (59:16). On that particular morning, Saul had planned to have David killed (1 Samuel 19:lla), but God intervened and delivered David. The words that David worshipfully expressed about God is true for all God's children: He is our defense, refuge, strength, and mercy (59:16-17).

        Thank You, dear Lord for the security we have in You. There is no place safer than in Your everlasting arms. May we learn to rest there despite our circumstances.