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David

Psalm 55

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David.

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Scripture (KJV)

1Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

2Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

3Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.

4My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.

5Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.

6And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

7Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.

8I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

10Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.

11Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

12For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:

13But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.

14We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

15Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

16As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.

17Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

18He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

19God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

20He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.

21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

22Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

23But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.

Summary

Psalm 55 is a lament of betrayal, in which David pours out his anguish over the voice of the enemy, the oppression of the wicked, and the terrors of death that have fallen upon him. He wishes for wings like a dove to fly away and be at rest, to escape the windy storm and tempest. The deepest wound is not the enemy but the friend: "it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance," with whom he took sweet counsel and walked to the house of God in company. The beloved verse 22 is the heart of the psalm’s hope: "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." David resolves to call upon God evening, morning, and noon, and to trust in Him even when bloody and deceitful men surround him.

The major themes are betrayal, lament, prayer, trust, and God’s sustaining grace. Practically, the psalm teaches that the pain of betrayal by a friend can be brought to God, and that casting our burden on Him is the path to being sustained. The great lesson is that the LORD sustains the righteous and never allows them to be moved.

Key Themes

A Prayer from Psalm 55

O God, give ear to my prayer and hide not Yourself from my supplication. When my heart is sore pained and the terrors of death fall upon me, when I long to fly away like a dove, remind me that You are my refuge. When a friend betrays and breaks covenant, when words are smoother than butter yet war is in the heart, I will call upon God, and You shall save me. Evening, morning, and noon I will pray and cry aloud, and You will hear my voice. You have delivered my soul in peace. I cast my burden upon You, LORD, and You shall sustain me; You will never suffer the righteous to be moved. I will trust in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection Questions

  1. 1How does the betrayal by a close friend in verses 12–14 deepen the lament?
  2. 2What does it mean to "cast thy burden upon the LORD"?
  3. 3How can I pray evening, morning, and noon as David did?
  4. 4Where do I need to trust that God will never suffer the righteous to be moved?

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