We will continue to look at Psalm 57 which was written by David in a time of distress. He had been anointed to be the next king, and as a result, he was fleeing from King Saul who was seeking to kill him and hiding in a cave.
In Psalm 57 the Hebrew word ‘chesed’ (translated as steadfast love in the ESV) appears twice. One Old Testament scholar writes, “Chesed is one of these beautiful grand attributes of God, and it describes two people who have a relationship. One person in the relationship is in desperate need and cannot help himself or herself, and the other is the person who can…. and, out of kindness, love, and loyalty, delivers that person.” Bruce Waltke
How is the concept of ‘chesed’ significant in understanding God’s nature?
Read Exodus 34:6-7 (which was written after the incident with the golden calf in chapter 32)
How does God use the word ‘chesed’ to declare His own character and what is the significance?
What other words does God use to speak of His nature in these verses and how do they help us better understand His ‘chesed’?
Read 2 Samuel 7:14-15, Psalm 103:8-16 and 1 John 4:9-10, 19
What do these verses tell us about God’s ‘chesed’ despite our weaknesses?
How do the Old Testament verses about God’s ‘chesed’ point to our gospel hope?
Read Psalm 57:1-3
In what ways does David apply the idea of God’s ‘chesed’ in his personal struggles?
How can we apply the idea of God’s steadfast love in our personal struggles?
Read Psalm 57:7-10 and Psalm 32:10
What is the result of David’s confidence in the ‘chesed’ of the Lord?
Read Psalm 57:7-11
How can gratitude and praise be a weapon against the enemy in our own lives, as taught in the Psalm?