Psalm 57 (56):2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Show compassion toward me, O God, show compassion toward me, for my soul has placed its trust in You (Psalm 56:1). During His Passion, Christ implores: Show compassion toward me, O God. To God, He pleads: Show compassion toward me! The one who extends mercy to you alongside the Father within you cries out, Show compassion toward Me. The part of Him that calls out, ‘Take pity on Me,’ belongs to you; it is from you that He received it; He assumed a human nature for your sake, so that you could be redeemed. The very flesh cries out, Show compassion toward Me, O God, show compassion toward Me: it is humanity itself, both soul and body. The Word embraced all of humanity, and the Word became fully human.

Show compassion toward me, O God, show compassion to me. David presents a plea to the Lord for all humanity. For in You my spirit places its trust, and under the shelter of Your wings I find hope. It is a common practice in Holy Scripture to denote the protective aspect of God as wings, as expressed in the words: ‘Kolkraty voskhoteh to gather Your children, as the coconut gathers its chicks under the krill’ (Matthew 23:37). Thus, I hold on to the expectation of Your assistance. Until sin is eradicated, specifically until Satan and the malevolent forces accompanying him are cast out from our midst.

Enclosed within a cave and witnessing his foes confined, the Prophet extols the compassion of God, demonstrating his profound faith in the Divine. The repetitive plea for mercy highlights the seriousness of the peril he faces. Aquila offers a clearer rendering of the phrase “till iniquity pass away,” translating it as “till the malice pass away,” while Symmachus conveys it as “till the offender pass away.” Thus, the Prophet declares his unwavering commitment to intercede until the wicked are removed. Those who engage in wrongdoing, given the nature of their actions as sinful, have been referred to as iniquity by the Septuagint.

Show mercy on me, O God, show mercy on me, for my soul places its trust in You. The repetition of the plea for mercy reflects the intensity and urgency of David's supplication. He declares that his reliance is not on any man but solely on You; therefore, extend Your mercy towards me, deeply trusting in You and unjustly pursued by Saul. Theodoret explains that this dual plea for mercy emphasizes the grave peril David faces. Didymus notes that this repetition indicates our need for God's mercy in both this world and the next. As I await Your aid, I will place my hope in the refuge of Your protection until wickedness ceases.

David, while in hiding within the cave, earnestly petitions the Lord for salvation from Saul's relentless pursuit, which foreshadows Christ, who concealed Himself as a humble servant yet reigns as the Sovereign of all. He intercedes for the deliverance of His body, meaning the church, from the assaults of Satan and his followers. It is as if he implores: Gracious God, rescue me from temptation and shield me from this dire situation where I am overwhelmed, especially from Saul, who stands as my accuser. Trusting in God serves as the most effective means of seeking compassion, as He never forsakes those who place their confidence in Him. Thus, he declares, I hope in the shadow of thy cry, signifying that I have relied on You thus far and shall maintain this faith unwaveringly. This enduring trust shall persist until the wickedness dissipates, that is, until my foe's unjust malice comes to an end.

After cleverly escaping from the grasp of the Philistines, David took refuge in the cave of Adullam to hide from Saul. The psalm reflects the emotions and thoughts that occupied David's heart during this time. Some scholars seem to connect this to the period he spent in the cave of Engedi. The expression "May you not harm—do not destroy (al tashkhet)" may encapsulate the psalm's central theme, which is a plea for the safeguarding of life, or it could be interpreted as “through (the song of) al tashkhet.” In the Hebrew text, this psalm presents significant challenges in interpretation; the structure of parallelism is found to be more coherent in the Septuagint than in the Hebrew version.

The directive to refrain from causing harm is echoed in an ancient song that begins with the phrase, "Thou shalt not molest." These psalms of David, titled similarly, should be sung in this spirit. More significantly, consider that while David was hidden in a cave, fleeing from Saul amidst grave peril, he implored God not to allow him to harm or take Saul’s life. His conscience prevented him from committing such an act, as he held back both his own hand and the intentions of others, despite having ample opportunity to end Saul’s life. This noble restraint deserves to be commemorated for all time.

In Your protection I place my trust until wrongdoing ceases. This refers specifically to the end of Saul's unlawful oppression. It signifies the removal of Satan and the malevolent forces from among us, until the age of transgressions concludes, meaning that the world is illuminated through the apostles' faith in Jesus Christ. Verses 5, 11, and 12 reflect this sentiment; hence, the Old Testament Church calls out to the Lord through the voice of David.