57:1 David began by comparing himself to a little bird that takes refuge from a passing enemy by hiding under the wing of its parent (cf. 17:8; 36:7; 61:4; 63:7; 91:4). The side to the cave in which David hid may have reminded him of a bird's wing.
57:2-3 He said he would cry and God Most High would send help. In these verses David pictured himself as an insignificant creature that a larger predator was about to step on.
57:4 His enemies were similar to voracious lions (cf. 7:2) and their words resembled lions' teeth. I wonder if Daniel thought of this verse when he was in the lions' den (Dan. 6). The soul represents the life of the psalmist. David's enemies used words as implements of warfare to attack him.
57:5 This refrain expresses David's desire that God would glorify Himself. Implicit in the desire is a request that God would deliver the just psalmist.
