Psalms 57 - Introduction

LVII.

This psalm offers a good example of the way in which hymns were sometimes composed for the congregation It is plainly the work of a man with a fine poetic sense. The imagery is striking, and the versification regular and pleasing. A refrain divides it into two equal pieces, each falling into two stanzas of six lines. Yet it is plainly a composition from older hymns. (Comp. especially Psalms 36:5; Psalms 56:2; Psalms 7:15; Psalms 9:15.) The second part has itself in turn been used by another compiler. (See Psalms 108)

Title. — See Psalms 4, 16, title, and comp. titles of Psalms 58, 59, 75

Al-taschith — i.e., destroy not, the first words of some song to the tune of which this was to be sung.