THE STEADFAST HEART

This psalm consists of parts of two earlier ones (57 and 60) probably brought together in this form when Judah’s exiles returned from Babylon (A. G. Clarke). Divine blessings are celebrated, vv. 7-9, and further blessings are sought, vv. 6, 10-13. But the psalmist begins with worship, vv. 1-5, and the opening words are a striking expression of his resolve to maintain a spirit of constant praise, “O God, my heart is fixed”. In Psalm 57. 7-9 this resolve is emphasized by the words, “I will sing … I will awake … I will praise”.

It is easy to pour out our praises to God when we have obvious reasons for doing so, e.g., when our prayers are answered, or good health returns after illness, or rain gives way to sunshine, or examination results are favourable. But our psalmist clearly regarded praise as resulting from a deliberate choice, a conscious resolve, a matter of the will as well as of the heart. He rouses himself, stirs himself, challenges himself. A vital phrase occurs at the end of verse 2, “I myself will awake early” (“I will wake the dawn” J.N.D.). Repeatedly in the psalms we meet the call to commune with God in the morning, “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up”, 5. 2, 3; see 59. 16; 63. 1; 92. 1, 2.

In verse 4, the psalmist indicates the reasons for his praises, “For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds”. The recognition of God’s mercy and truth, as revealed in His law and as experienced in life, motivates the psalmist’s praises. And since those divine attributes never vary, nor should the praises of His people. We should be prepared to “wake the dawn”. And to be very practical, this may demand a judicious use of the alarm clock.

A formative influence in this writer’s early Christian life was the classic I.V.F. booklet, “The Quiet Time”. One contributor gives this terse advice, “Go to bed in time. Late nights are the relentless enemy of the morning watch. The devil will fight us here. He must be fought back. Pray the night before about your getting up the next morning”.

“Rising up a great while before day, he went out… and there prayed”, Mark 1. 35.