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Singing among the lions

Can anyone sing when surrounded by hungry lions? We may have situations like this when we are surrounded by enemies and there is no time to sing or to think of singing. However, the psalmists will sing in such situations.

In Psalm 57:7-8, the psalmist says,
"My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn."
Here we see the psalmist excited to sing for the Lord. He resolves that he will make music for God. Then he goes on to invite his own soul to get up from the slumber it has fallen into so that a new song can issue forth from his inner being. His instruments that have been put aside for a while is also exhorted to wake up from their sleep and join him in the singing. Most amazing is the resolve to awaken the dawn! Usually dawn comes in its own time. People and animals awake at the dawn. It is the dawn that awakens world not the other way round. However, the psalmist who would like to sing a song for God cannot wait for the dawn to come in its own time. He would rather like to ask the dawn to come a bit earlier than usual so that he can start singing for the Lord. He just can't wait!
The psalmist's enthusiasm to sing for God is unparalleled; it is rather unexpected. The situation that he has described in the previous verses is not one that helps one to sing. In verse 4 he describes the severity of the situation that he faces as, "I am in the midst of lions, I lie among ravenous beasts-men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp arrows." It is not an easy situation and not one to sing to the accompaniment of stringed instruments like harp and lyre. The reality of the situation that he goes through has nothing really to contribute to such joyful singing. It calls for lamenting.
However, though the situation is worrying and one that burdens his heart, there is another aspect of his life that makes him sing. It is his faith in God who will rescue him from the all the troubles that he goes through.  It is the faith in a God who "sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; God sends his love and his faithfulness" (v. 3). It is the faith in God who rescues us from all malice and wicked plans of the enemy that makes a song reside in our lips. The psalmist's focus is on God who rescues him and not on the enemy's who vainly try to destroy him.

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