Psalm 57 (56):10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

As the morning light rises, the psalter is lifted up in praise, expressing gratitude to the Lord. What does it declare? "I will praise You among the nations, O Lord, and I will sing Your praises among the people; for Your mercy reaches to the heavens, and Your truth to the clouds" (Psalm 56:10). Heaven is situated above the clouds, which themselves are found beneath the sky; yet even the clouds are part of this nearest heaven. At times, the clouds are seen resting upon the mountains while still being part of the surrounding air. Nevertheless, there exists a higher Heaven, the abode of Angels, Thrones, Sovereignties, Dominions, Powers, and Authorities.

The Prophet declares that he will not only offer this song now, but when the true light emerges, illuminating the extended darkness of ignorance and revealing the dawn of the awaited day, he will serve as a teacher to all nations and languages. With their voices, as if strummed like strings, he will proclaim a song of gratitude.

I will declare my gratitude to You, O Lord, in the presence of the Jewish people, and I will praise You through the psalms before the nations. Didymus comments on this, noting that, as Athanasius explains, David expresses his thankfulness and offers songs to God alongside both Jews and Gentiles who belong to Christ’s church.

Recognizing that his psalms would resonate across the entire world among believers, not just the Jewish people but also those from various nations united in the church, the holy prophet included these words, inviting all through his example to offer praise to God.

After cleverly escaping from the grasp of the Philistines, David took refuge in the cave of Adullam to evade Saul, as noted in 1 Samuel 22:1. Our psalm reflects the emotions and thoughts that occupied David’s heart during that period. Some interpretations suggest a connection to his time in the cave of Engedi, as described in 1 Samuel 24ff. The phrase "May ye not molest - destroy not (al tashkhet)" perhaps encapsulates the psalm's central theme—a heartfelt plea for the preservation of life. Alternatively, it may be understood as “by (the song of) al tashkhet.” The Hebrew text of this psalm presents significant challenges for interpretation; the parallel structure is found to be more coherent in the Septuagint than in the Hebrew version. This may suggest a context of reflection in the evening, prior to sleep.

The idea that one should not harm others is echoed in an ancient song that begins with the phrase “You shall not harm.” It is suggested that these psalms of David, which bear the title "You shall not harm," should be sung in a similar spirit. A more reliable reference, however, is taken from a moment when David, while hiding in a cave from Saul and facing imminent danger, implores God not to allow him the opportunity to harm or kill Saul. His own conscience restrained him, preventing any act of violence against Saul, even though he had numerous chances to slay him. Such restraint deserves permanent commemoration.