GOD MOST HIGH – EL ELYON

by Barri Cae Mallin

Shalom. My name is Barri Cae. I was raised in a Jewish home and was saved in 1980
in my cousin's Jewish delicatessen. To God be all the glory. Shalom.

1. Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by. 2. I will cry to God Most High, Elohim Elyon1, to God who accomplishes all things for me. - Psalm 57:1-2

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David wrote this psalm after he had fled from Saul (I Samuel 24:3) and his three thousand men who chased David, desiring to kill him. Saul received the news that David had fled to EnGedi to hide.

Have you ever had someone in pursuit of you? It is not a good feeling. David beseeches God to be merciful, to have mercy upon him. Pity me, O LORD, be gracious, have favor, be kind to me, O LORD, David cries. Even though I do not deserve Your favor or Your goodness, have mercy on me! David declares his sole trust is upon God.

How often have we been in this same place? When I was a very new believer learning to trust God, I was being pursued by someone who was not a good person. This person had telephoned me. (This was before the days of answering machines and caller I.D.) I knew that I must release myself from the grips of this person.

This person called me to inform me that they were in my neighborhood and would stop by. Even though I did not want to see this person, this person would not take ‘no’ for an answer. So I grabbed my keys, dashed out to my car and parked down the road from my residence. I did not want to be seen; I still hyper-ventilate even thinking about this episode. Within a few minutes, this person showed up, knocked on my door and remained on my doorstep for some time. I remained in my parked car, across and down the street, beseeching God to help me! I was so new as a believer in trusting God to help me. I had really no past experience to fall back upon to believe that He would do that. It was a new experience for me, and one that was very frightening.

Yet, within a few minutes, this person left and I never had to deal with this situation or that person again, Praise God. I could relate to David’s words then: My soul takes refuge in You, until destruction passes by. I truly was under the shadow of the LORD’s wings that day. I cried unto God Most High, El Elyon, who does all things for me.

David gives praise to God in verse three: He will send from heaven and save me; He reproaches him who tramples upon me. Selah. Saul pursued David and stopped in a cave. Saul had no idea that David and his men were hiding in the same cave. He entered, thinking that no one was inside. As Saul slept, David did not touch Saul but cut off a piece of his garment. The men of David said to him, Behold, this is the day of which the LORD said to you, "Behold; I am about to give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it seems to you." Then David arose and cut off the edge of Saul's robe secretly. It came about afterward that David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul's robe. So he said to his men, Far be it from me because of the LORD that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, since he is the LORD'S anointed. David persuaded his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. (I Samuel 24: 4-7)

Even though Saul wanted to kill David, a reversal of fortune occurred and David had the opportunity to kill Saul. But he could not. Saul fell into his own trap that he had set for David (vs. 6).

David concludes with seven great praises for El Elyon:

My heart is steadfast – vs. 7

I will sing - vs. 7

I will sing praises - vs. 7

I will awaken the dawn - vs. 8

I will give thanks to You, O God - vs. 9

I will give thanks to You, O God, among the people - vs. 9

I will sing praises to You among the nations - vs. 9


David praises God, David praises God Most High, David praises God Most High whose lovingkindness is great to the Heavens. There is no where higher than Heaven. Sir Edmund Hillary ascended Mount Everest, the highest place on earth; but God Most High, El Elyon is higher than that piddly mountain! God’s truth reaches to the clouds.

Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
Let Your glory be above all the earth!
Praise Ye the LORD!
vs. 11


1. El is a shortened form of Elohim. - ed.


Copyright © Barri Cae Mallin.

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This article has been edited and may be read in its original form at www.barricae.com.
Other devotionals by Barri Cae may be found at www.barricae.com
and www.injesus.com
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inquire at
Contact Barri Cae.

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