To the chief musician on neginoth, a maskil of David
55:Title Neginoth indicated stringed instruments. Maskil was probably a literary or musical term.⚜
55
📚Give ear to my prayer,O God,
and do not hide yourself
from my supplication.
55:1 See Ps 5:1; 17:6; 54:2; 61:1; 86:6. We do not know the time or circumstances when David wrote this. Perhaps it had to do with the rebellion of Absalom recorded in 2 Samuel chapters 15–17. The first eleven verses speak of enemies in general, the next four of betrayal by a close friend, and the concluding eight verses reveal David’s confidence in God in the time of trial and danger.⚜
2 📚Be attentive to me,
and hear me.
I am restless in my complaint
and cry out,
3 📚because of the voice
of the enemy,
because of the oppression
of the wicked.
For they bring trouble on me,
and hate me in their wrath.
55:2-3 See Ps 64:1; 77:3; 142:2; 1 Sam 1:16; Job 9:27; Isa 38:14; 59:11; Ezek 7:16; Matt 26:28; Heb 5:7.⚜
4 📚My heart is in anguish
within me,
and the terrors of death have fallen
on me.
5 📚Fear and trembling have come
on me,
and horror has overwhelmed me.
55:4-5 See Ps 18:4-5; 116:3. Do believers ever fear death? Though they should not, some do, especially if their faith is not strong, or if it is upset by circumstances, or if they do not feel God’s nearness at the time, or if they do not know the Word of God very well, or if Satan overwhelms them with his evil presence. But we in this New Testament age should understand that the Lord Jesus died that all those who believe in Him might be freed from the fear of death (Heb 2:14-15; 1 John 4:18; Rev 2:10). Because the Lord Jesus died in agony, the believer can die in peace and triumph (Acts 7:59-60; 1 Cor 15:55-57; 2 Cor 5:1-8; Phil 1:20-23). However, in Old Testament times believers did not have this revelation in its fullness.⚜
6 📚And I said, “Oh, that I had wings
like a dove!
For then I would fly away
and be at rest.
7 📚Yes, then I would wander
far away and remain
in the wilderness. Selah
8 📚I would quickly make my escape
from the windy storm
and tempest”.
55:6-8 Sometimes troubles and sorrows seem unendurable and we long to escape. But the spiritual person will recognize that trials are sent or permitted by God, not that we might run from them, but that we might endure them for His glory and our good (Luke 22:41-42; Jam 1:2-4; 1 Pet 1:6-7; 4:12-13). Trying to run away from troubles is natural but useless. It is not God’s way for us, and there is no wilderness where we will find rest. There is a better place, a better way. That is to find peace in Christ’s will and rest in God’s compassionate arms (Matt 11:29; John 14:1; 16:33; 2 Cor 1:3-5; Phil 4:6-7).⚜
9 📚Destroy them, O Lord,
and split their tongues
in two!
For I have seen violence and
strife in the city.
10 📚Day and night they go around
it on its walls;
and evil and sorrow are
within it.
11 📚Wickedness is
within it;
deceit and guile do not depart
from its streets.
55:9-11 In the days immediately preceding Absalom’s rebellion Jerusalem may well have been like this. The city of David was greatly disturbed by the activities of wicked men.⚜
12 📚For it was not an enemy
who reproached me.
Then I could have endured it.
Nor was it one who hated me who
exalted himself against me.
Then I would have hidden myself
from him.
13 📚But it was you,
a man like me,
my friend and my acquaintance.
14 📚We took sweet counsel together and
walked to the house of God
with the throng.
55:12-14 If the man described here was not Ahitophel (2 Sam 15:12; 2 Sam 16:23) then we have no clue whatever to his identity. The prayer of David in the last part of v 9 is similar to the prayer he made concerning Ahitophel in 2 Sam 15:31. Whoever he was David addresses his remarks to him directly in vs 13,14. Some think they see here Judas, the betrayer of Jesus. It is true Christ called Judas “friend” in Matt 26:50. But He never trusted him (Ps 41:9; John 6:64, 70, 71).⚜
15 📚Let death seize these enemies,
and let them go down alive
into hell 📖,
for wickedness is among them
in their homes.
55:15 Note on such prayers at Ps 35:8.⚜
16 📚As for me, I will call on God;
and the LORD will save me.
17 📚Evening, and morning,
and at noon,
I will pray and cry out aloud;
and he will hear my voice.
18 📚He has delivered my soul
in peace from
the battle that was
against me;
for there were many with me.
55:16-18 Salvation from enemies and victory in battle are repeatedly seen in David’s life. The reason is found in his prayer life (compare Luke 11:9-13; 18:1-8; Eph 6:18; Jam 5:16). He labored to keep his conscience clear and his heart clean, to be faithful in prayer and to exercise faith when he prayed. This resulted in great confidence toward God (see Ps 6:8-10).⚜
19 📚God will hear, and afflict them,
the God who abides
from ancient times. Selah
Because they do not change,
therefore they do not fear God 📖.
55:19 He believed even in that dark hour that God reigns and is in control of affairs (Ps 29:10; 90:2; 93:2; Deut 33:27).⚜
20 📚He has put forth his hands
against those who are at peace
with him;
he has broken his covenant.
21 📚The words of his mouth
were smoother than butter,
but war was in his heart.
His words were softer than oil,
yet they were drawn
swords.
22 📚Cast your burden on the LORD,
and he will sustain you.
He will never allow the righteous
to be shaken.
23 📚But you, O God, will bring them
down into the pit of destruction.
Bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not
live half their days.
But I will trust in you.
55:23 How many victories, how much peace of mind, how much glory to God can be traced to the words in the closing sentence!⚜