Psalms 57:8

My Notes

What Does Psalms 57:8 Mean?

"Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early." David summons his own glory — his capacity for praise — to wake up, then summons his instruments, then summons himself. The morning praise begins with David commanding himself out of sleep and into worship. The glory that should praise God needs to be roused.

The phrase "awake up, my glory" (urah khevodi — wake up, my honor/glory) is David addressing his own spiritual capacity: the 'glory' is his ability to worship, his poetic gift, his identity as a praiser. Even David's glory can sleep — can go dormant, can need rousing. The capacity for praise exists but must be awakened.

The progression — glory, then instruments, then self — is the reverse of what you'd expect: usually a person wakes up first, then picks up instruments, then worships. David commands the worship first, the instruments second, and himself last: 'I MYSELF will awake early.' The worship leads. The person follows. The praise pulls David out of sleep.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What would it look like to command your worship awake before your feet hit the floor?
• 2.How does David addressing his own glory teach about the intentionality of praise?
• 3.What does waking up FOR worship (not just including worship in the day) change about your mornings?
• 4.Where has your capacity for praise gone dormant — and what would rouse it?

Devotional

Wake up, glory. Wake up, harp and psaltery. I MYSELF will wake early. David commands worship into existence before he's even fully awake. The glory goes first — the capacity for praise is summoned before the body has left the bed. The instruments are called second. David himself comes last. The worship leads. The worshiper follows.

The 'awake up, my glory' is David talking to himself: the part of him that praises God has gone dormant. It needs waking. The capacity for worship can sleep — even in David, the poet king, the worship leader of Israel. The glory that should be perpetually burning needs reigniting every morning. The praise muscle needs to be exercised daily.

The 'I myself will awake early' means David is choosing to wake up FOR worship: the early rising isn't for work, war, or administration. It's for praise. The first act of the day is worship. The first sound of the morning is music. The first word is praise. Everything else comes after the glory has been roused and the instruments have been played.

The reverse order — worship first, then self — is the discipline of the mature worshiper: don't wait until you feel like praising. Command the praise. Don't wait until the mood strikes. Summon the glory. Don't wait until the morning is convenient. Wake yourself early for the purpose of worship. Let the praise pull you out of sleep.

What would it look like to command your glory awake before your feet hit the floor?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture