Psalms 55
PATTo the chief Musician on Neginoth. MaschiL A Psalm of David. This Psalm was sent to the master of the music, to be sung as the former: having an occasion something like it. For the complaint which he makes in the middle of the Psalm, that his greatest confidant proved treacherous to him, makes it probable that it was composed when Absalom’s rebellion broke out, and he was forced to flee suddenly from Jerusalem: and, as he was going barefoot upon Mount Olivet (he and all his company weeping), to increase his sorrow, met the news thatAhithophel also was among th6 conspirators, 2 Sam. xv. 31. Upon which, we read there, he presently fell to his prayers; and as soon as he came to a place where he could rest, and retire himself, he represented, it is likely, the sadness of his condition more largely in this Psalm: beseeching God to disappoint the conspirators, (ver. 9.) First, because of the violence they had committed at Jerusalem: ver. 9 — 11. and, secondly, because of the vile treachery of Ahithophel, from the twelfth to the fifteenth, which seems to me ought to be connected with the beginning of the ninth verse; for he goes on, in the fifteenth, to beseech God to defeat them all, which he had begun in the ninth, but breaks off to insert his reasons why he was so earnest: and then, in the conclusion, he exhorts all those that adhered to him not to be discouraged, but to cast their care upon the Lord; who would reward their pious confidence in him, by protecting and delivering them, and destroying their and his enemies. and tempest.’] And I would make all the haste imaginable to escape this fierce persecution, (2 Sam. xvii. 16. 21.) which is risen like a sudden storm of wind, or violent tempest, and threatens utterly to subvert me.
Psalms 55:1
\XIVE ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. O God, the supreme judge of all the world, I most humbly address myself to thee, who art inclined to relieve those that are oppressed: beseeching thee not to reject a poor supplicant, but graciously to receive his petition which he puts up unto thee.
Psalms 55:2
Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise. Let the sadness of my condition move thee to consider and relieve me; which I am not able to represent in my prayer, without shrieks and lamentable cries: so great is the perturbation of my mind.
Psalms 55:3
Because 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.~. Because my own son is become my enemy, and hath blown the trumpet of rebellion against me, (2 Sam. xv. 10.) and because of the sore straits to which he hath wickedly reduced me: for which, that there might be some colour, he and his associates load me with false accusations, and say I am unjust, and take no care of my people, (ver. 3, 4.) and therefore furiously set themselves against me to dethrone me.
Psalms 55:4
My heart is sore pained within me; and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. This is a sore grief unto my heart, and puts me into the very agonies of death:’ which, without thy mercy, I must suddenly expect, (2 Sam.’ xvii. 2.)
Psalms 55:5
Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. The suddenness and strength of this conspiracy have struck me into such a fear, as makes me tremble: I am involved in such difficulties, that, which way soever I look, horror and consternation seize’ upon me.
Psalms 55:6
And I said, Oh that I had tuings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. In this confusion I rather wished than hoped to escape, (2 Sam. xv. 14.) saying, Who will lend me wings as swift as those of a dove, that I may flee away to some place of safety and repose?
Psalms 55:7
Lo, then woidd I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. Lo, then would I go to some fardistant country, though I wandered I knew not whither; (2 Sam. xv. 20.) I would hide myself in some desert place, remote from all society.
Psalms 55:8
I would hasten my escape from the windy storm
Psalms 55:9
Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. O Lord, let that speedy destruction swallow up them which they design against me, (2 Sam. xvii. 16.) divide their counsels, and raise dissensions among them: (2 Sam. xv. 34. xvii. 14, 15.) for I am certainly informed, that, by rapine and cruelty, brawling and contention, they have filled the whole city of Jerusalem with tumult and confusion.
Psalms 55:10
Day and night they go about it upon tJie walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. There is nothing else to be seen, either by day or by night: for they that guard the gates, or go the rounds, make it their business to ravage and spoil, to pick quarrels, and fall out with every body they meet withal; and such as run to the main guards, in hope to meet with some relief, aTe miserably deceived: for there the same iniquity, oppression, and injurious dealing, keep their station.
Psalms 55:11
Wickedness is in the midst thereof; deceit and guile depart not from her streets. There is no place free either from their open violence, or secret fraud and deceit; but they barbarously abuse, or cunningly circumvent, the inhabitants, both within doors and without.
Psalms 55:12
For 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 Imve hid myself from him. And there is one most notorious traitor, whose ingratitude deserves to be severely punished; for he hath maliciously reproached and calumniated me and my government, when I thought of no such treachery: for we never had any quarrel (then his treason would not have been so strange, but far more tolerable), nor did he give any sign of hatred to me; for then I could have secured myself, by withdrawing from his familiarity.
Psalms 55:13
But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. No; thou, O most perfidious of all mankind, who contrivest this mischief against mc, wast the person whom I esteemed above all others; whom I loved as myself; whose counsel I ever followed; and to whom, as my friend, I unbosomed all my secrets.
Psalms 55:14
We took sweet counsel togetlter, and walked vnto the house of God in company. Whose conversation was most delightful to me, and to whom I thought I had been tied, not only by the bond of civil friendship, but (which is far stronger) of religion.
Psalms 55:15
Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them. Let death seize on them as unexpectedly as this treason broke out against me: let them sink on a sudden into the grave, when they think of nothing less; for wheresoever they go, all manner of mischief marches along with them.
Psalms 55:16
As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me. As for me, I will injure nobody to preserve myself, but only commend myself and my cause to God, the righteous judge: and the almighty Lord, who changes not, will deliver me as he hath done formerly.
Psalms 55:17
Evening, andmorning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud; and he shall hear my voice. For this I will not cease to solicit him when I go to bed, an<J when I rise, and before I take my repast; both in my inward thoughts, and with my mouth, in silent desires and lamentable moans, I will never give over my importunity, till he graciously grant my petition, and send me relief.
Psalms 55:18
He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me. He will rescue me from the hand of this rebellious anny which comes against me, and restore me to my throne in peace: for be they never so numerous, there is a fat greater power on my side, to defend me, and to fight for me.
Psalms 55:19
God shall hear and afflict them, even he that abidethofold. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. God himself, who hath so long governed the world most justly, and never alters nor changes, will hear my prayer, and bring down their pride: for having prospered hitherto in their villany, thcTeis not one of them that repents; but they all pertinaciously persist in their rebellion, without any fear of the Divine vengeance.
Psalms 55:20
He hath put forth his hands against such asbe at peace with him; he hath broken his covenant. Especially that perfidious person, who hath not only violated all the law$ of friendship, but profanely broken his promise and oath of fidelity, wherein he was engaged to me.
Psalms 55:21
The 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. Nothing can be falser than he; who entertained me with the fairest and smoothest language, when, at the same time, he was contriving this rebellion in his heart: all his soft words and tender professions of kindness to me, served only to hide his design of giving mc a mortal wound.
Psalms 55:22
Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. But why do I trouble myself any farther with him? be not dejected, O my soul (and let me give this counsel to every one that adheres to me), but, reposing thy humble trust in God, cast all the burdens of thy cares upon him, who will certainly support thee under any troubles that he is pleased to impose upon thee. Preserve thy integrity; and, though thou mayest be shaken and disturbed for a time, he will not suffer thee to be moved out of thy place, but quietly s ettle thee there again. *
Psalms 55:23
But 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. But as for those that have given me this disturbance, thou, O God, wilt bring them to an untimely end, and throw them headlong into the pit of destruction. They are men that thirst after blood, and by all manner of fraud and treachery endeavour to compass their ends: and such shall perish iA the flower of their age, when I trust to spend my days in prosperity and peace.