"I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds."
Psalm 57:9-10
In David’s youth, he was forced to run for his life from the jealousy of King Saul. His response to his circumstances is remarkable. As he flees from Saul, he runs away to the LORD. This psalm shares with us David’s thoughts to the LORD. Please read the psalm to get the whole picture.
“I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people:”
Even before he knew the outcome of these difficult circumstances, he is praising the Lord. In all these events he is wanting God to be glorified (v. 5). He is well aware of the dangers to himself, but the outcome of glory to God is more important to David. Of course, he wants God to work and protect him through his danger. Even surrounded by the dangers of men hunting him, he is praising God “among the people,” that is, his people Israel. He is demonstrating to his people what a great God they have by his public praise.
“I will sing unto thee among the nations.”
Not only is David praising God in front of his people, but also the Gentiles. “The nations” are all the non-Jews. His testimony is to show the unbelievers that his God is the great God.
“Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name,” (Psalm 18:49).
The Apostle Paul picked up on David’s idea with testifying to the Gentiles.
“And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name,” (Romans 15:9).
“For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.”
And what will David share with his people and the Gentiles? “Thy mercy is great unto the heavens – It is as far above all human description and comprehension as the heavens are above the earth.”1 God’s mercy and truth work together, they are both present together. To understand who God is and the way He works with people, we need to follow His great mercy.
What a vital message for us to remember and to share with this lost world. God is merciful, and God does forgive sin!
1. Adam Clarke, Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword.