Have you ever had a time that you hid from someone?  Perhaps something simple, such as a childhood game of hide and seek, with no real danger.  Or maybe something more real — a time where you knew that if you were found, trouble and harm would be the only outcomes.  Sometimes it is life itself that we are hiding from, not wanting to face another day with all of its demands, responsibilities, people, and problems.  In those times, it is easy to slide into this thought process; “I’m all alone.  Everyone is out to get me.  No one cares.  Is there anyone I can trust and turn to?”

I love the introductory text in many of the Psalms.  We are often given information about who wrote a particular Psalm, what tune to use with it, what instruments to use, what style of song it is, and even the background of where and when it was written.  Psalm 57 has one of these introductions and it says it was written by David “when he had fled from Saul into the cave.”  We know that there were at least two times that David hid in a cave, probably more that aren’t recorded.  For our purposes, it really doesn’t matter much which time, or what cave, David is in.  I want to think about the words David wrote while in hiding — while being pursued by the king who was seeking to end David’s life.

What do you do in the darkness of hiding?  David wrote a song.  A song recognizing that he was in trouble and needed help — help that only a faithful God could bring.  Help that he was pretty sure wasn’t always deserved.  We can learn a lesson from David as we look at how he approached God.  David almost always makes a clear acknowledgement of who God is in relation to himself.  David speaks to God very directly, very boldly; but not in a commanding manner — more like in desperation.  He writes like a man confident in God’s love for him, but knowing he doesn’t really deserve it.

Psalm 57 begins with David as a refugee, knowing he deserves no rights and privileges, calling out to God to have mercy on him.  Calling out to a “God Most High” for vindication, knowing that God knows for certain if his cause is just and right.  As David sits in the cave writing this song, he is confident that the God who called him to be the next king is a God of mercy and love.  As he is in hiding, he writes of God sending forth “his love and his faithfulness.”  In the verses that follow, David describes his pursuers with these words:  “I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among man-eating beasts, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.”  As I read verses 3 and 4 of Psalm 57, I think immediately of Daniel and how God sent his love and faithfulness to Daniel in the form of His angels coming to shut the mouths of the lions.  Perhaps those same angels were here, shielding David from capture and destruction by the “hungry lions” that were in constant pursuit of him.

Whatever form it took, David recognized it was God’s love and faithfulness that could make his heart steadfast and provide the protection and purpose he needed to continue.  The same love and faithfulness that God extends to us in the midst of the “dark caves” of our life.  As David writes, his song reminds us that God’s presence can illuminate the darkest of caves in our life.  For me, there has always been something about praising God that would drive the fear and darkness away from my life.  I remember as a young boy doing chores on the farm after dark or early in the morning before dawn.  I would head out to the dark barn with all of its creepy sounds and shadows and who knew what else lurking in the dark corners and hay mow.  As I entered the barn and headed up the ladder to get some hay for the cattle, I would sing praises to God at the top of my lungs.  I’ve added others to it, but my favorite song then, and now, for those “dark caves” of my life is “How Great Thou Art”.  I was convinced that anyone hiding out in the barn would have no choice but to remain hidden or run for their lives when they heard of the greatness of my God.  And so the song that began as a call for protection soon turned into a confident praise of a God who has great love and faithfulness — in my songs in the barn, and in life; and in David’s song in Psalm 57!

May you and I continue to call out to God for the mercy and grace that we need.  May we recognize the great love and faithfulness that He sends our way.  And may we ever praise Him with resounding song as He alone brings light into the “dark caves” of our life.