Worship in surprising places

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I am a pastor. And I am stuck. There are things happening in the wider church to which I belong that are causing me great distress and heartache. Today as I look for something to help me through the turmoil, I turned to the Psalms. I chose Psalm 57 for no other reason than I remember someone referring to it recently. I can't remember who or why, but that doesn't matter.

I found here a repeated statement

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens: let your glory be over all the earth (57:5,11)

Most Christian people will read this and see it, rightly, as a declaration of praise and a prayer for God's glory to be seen. What surprises me, and possibly others, is the context in which this declaration of praise is made.

The Psalm opens with a plea for God to have mercy until the disaster has passed. And in verse 4 we read:

I am in the midst of lions;
I lie among ravenous beasts -
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.

My response at times like this that are described, indeed in times like those I am experiencing, is to do what the Psalmist does in verse 1 "take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed." His response at this time is so much better. His response is to worship.

Then he preaches to himself - a discipline all Christians should take up.

My heart is steadfast, O God
my heart is steadfast.
I will sing and make music.
Awake, my soul!

This is no 'self-talk' though. This isn't a writer trying to inspire and motivate himself to face an enemy, or to face a difficult task. This is a man who has seen what God has done in the past and is trusting that this same God will bring him through these difficulties, though they are enormous.

His confidence?

For great is your love reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

 No wonder he can then say again

Be exalted O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth. 

 And if his love does reach to the heavens and his faithfulness to the skies, and if his glory can be over all the earth, then I can be very confident that his love, faithfulness, and glory can reach to me where I am.

Be exalted, O God.