Psalm 55 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

55:1

Psalm 55:1-23. In great terror on account of enemies, and grieved by the treachery of a friend, the Psalmist offers an earnest prayer for relief. He mingles confident assurances of divine favor to himself with invocations and predictions of God‘s avenging judgments on the wicked. The tone suits David‘s experience, both in the times of Saul and Absalom, though perhaps neither was exclusively before his mind.

hide not thyself, etc. — (compare Psalm 13:1; Psalm 27:9), withhold not help.

55:2

The terms of the last clause express full indulgence of grief.

55:3

oppression — literally, “persecution.”

they iniquity — literally, “they make evil doings slide upon me.”

55:4-5

express great alarm.

55:5

come upon — or literally, “into.”

55:6

be at rest — literally, “dwell,” that is, permanently.

55:7-8

Even a wilderness is a safer place than exposure to such evils, terrible as storm and tempest.

55:9

Destroy — literally, “swallow” (Psalm 21:9).

divide their tongues — or, “confound their speech,” and hence their counsels (Genesis 11:7).

the city — perhaps Jerusalem, the scene of anarchy.

55:10-11

which is described in detail (compare Psalm 7:14-16).

55:11

Wickedness — literally, “Mischief,” evils resulting from others (Psalm 5:9; Psalm 52:2, Psalm 52:7).

streets — or literally, “wide places,” markets, courts of justice, and any public place.

55:12-14

This description of treachery does not deny, but aggravates, the injury from enemies.

55:13

guide — literally, “friend” (Proverbs 16:28; Proverbs 17:9).

acquaintance — in Hebrew, a yet more intimate associate.

55:14

in company — literally, “with a crowd,” in a festal procession.

55:15

Let death, etc. — or, “Desolations are on them.”

let them go — literally, “they will go.”

quick — or, living in the midst of life, death will come (compare Numbers 16:33).

among them — or, “within them,” in their hearts (Psalm 5:9; Psalm 49:11).

55:16-18

God answers his constant and repeated prayers.

55:18

many with me — that is, by the context, fighting with me.

55:19

God hears the wicked in wrath.

abideth — or, “sitteth.”

of old — enthroned as a sovereign.

Because no changes — Prosperity hardens them (Psalm 73:5).

55:20-21

The treachery is aggravated by hypocrisy. The changes of number, Psalm 55:15, Psalm 55:23, and here, enliven the picture, and imply that the chief traitor and his accomplices are in view together.

55:22

thy burden — literally, “gift,” what is assigned you.

he shall sustain — literally, “supply food,” and so all need (Psalm 37:25; Matthew 6:11).

to be moved — from the secure position of His favor (compare Psalm 10:6).

55:23 days — (compare Psalm 5:6; Psalm 51:14), deceit and murderous dispositions often united. The threat is directed specially (not as a general truth) against the wicked, then in the writer‘s view.