Psalm 57 (56):5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Consider the manner of taking life, dear brethren. The adversary is referred to as a destroyer of souls, not because he wields a sword or carries a dagger, but because he approaches a person and plants deceitful words within him, leading to his demise. Do not delude yourselves into thinking that you are free from such guilt when you lead your brother into wickedness. If you teach your brother to do evil, you effectively bring about his death. To understand the gravity of this, reflect on these words from the psalm: “The sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and whose tongue is a sharp sword.”

Rescue my spirit from the depths of confusion, specifically the mental turmoil. Pospah is thrown into disarray, abandoned among the foreign nations, likened to the Gethites. As for me, ‘Pospah is thrown into disarray’ due to the malevolence of humankind. Yet, the Most High, having sent forth His Word, ‘delivers my spirit,’ and thus I remain unharmed by the chaos of the Shekinahs. Since I have been freed from these mental torments, I will find peace, even though I was once troubled by them. But who are these fierce beasts? They are the sons of men, with their teeth, their weapons, and their arrows. They embody malice in all their dealings. Just as a finely honed sword strikes swiftly, the tongue, when it is sharp, brings about death through its wicked speech.

And rescue my spirit from the midst of those who oppress. See verse 4. Pospach is in distress. Theodotion renders it as: resting with those who destroy; Aquila, alongside those who consume; and Symmachus, among those who incinerate. Thus, the Prophet was understandably troubled, surrounded by such individuals, and forced to find rest among them. He referred to Saul as both slayers and consumers, illustrating the brutality of his spirit and his inclination towards violence. This is further clarified in the subsequent verses. O children of humanity, their teeth are like weapons and arrows, and their tongue is a sharp blade. By referring to them as oppressors, He also noted their teeth, comparing them to spears and arrows, and their tongue to a precise sword. All of this signifies their deadly intentions.

And rescue my soul from the midst of those who prey upon me. Reflect on Psalm 56:4 Pospah experiences distress. He notes that when Saul entered the cave with his men, he fell into a brief and troubled slumber due to the peril surrounding him. It is noteworthy that the sacred text does not state that Saul's companions entered the cave. Theodotion translates “in confusion” as “among those who devour,” while Symmachus refers to them as "those who scorch," and Aquila describes them as "the strong," or as Theodoret interprets, "among the thoughts that tormented me intensely, nearly consuming my heart." Thus, it is just that I experienced turmoil, compelled to rest among such threats. The children of men, their teeth are weapons and arrows, and their tongues are sharp swords.

From the heavens, He bestowed mercy and truth, akin to two hands or wings: mercy, through which He granted me salvation, and truth, representing righteousness, by which He confounded my adversaries. In this way, He rescued my soul from a multitude of foes, whose ferocity resembled that of lions, with tongues and teeth that pierced my heart like sharp weapons, causing me to be restless, filled with dread at the thought of their brutality.

After cleverly escaping from the Philistines, David took refuge in the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1) to evade Saul. The psalm reflects the emotions and thoughts that occupied David during this period. Some interpretations inaccurately link it to his time in the cave of En Gedi (1 Samuel 24ff.). The expression "May you not disturb—do not destroy (al tashkhet)" likely captures the essence of the psalm, representing a prayer for the safeguarding of life; alternatively, it might be read as "by (the song of) al tashkhet." This psalm presents several challenges in interpretation; the poetic structure aligns more favorably with the LXX translation than with the Hebrew text, suggesting it may have been composed in the evening, before sleep.

Some interpret the phrase "Thou shalt not molest" as derived from a traditional song that begins with this admonition. Like the refrain of that melody, the Psalms of David—under the title "Thou shalt not molest"—are to be recited. However, there is a more substantial understanding: while David was concealed in a cave from Saul and faced intense peril, he pleaded with God not to allow him to harm or kill Saul. His conscience restrained him from such wrongdoing, preventing both himself and others from committing violence, despite having multiple opportunities to do so. This commitment to restraint deserves to be memorialized for all time.