Jamieson, Fausset and Brown on Psalms 55

PSALM 55

Psa 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.

1. hide not thyself, &c.--(compare Psa 13:1; 27:9), withhold not help.

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

3. oppression--literally, "persecution."

they ... iniquity--literally, "they make evil doings slide upon me."

4-5. express great alarm.

6. be at rest--literally, "dwell," that is, permanently.

7-8. Even a wilderness is a safer place than exposure to such evils, terrible as storm and tempest.

9. Destroy--literally, "swallow" (Psa 21:9).

divide their tongues--or, "confound their speech," and hence their counsels (Ge 11:7).

the city--perhaps Jerusalem, the scene of anarchy.

10-11. which is described in detail (compare Psa 7:14-16).

12-14. This description of treachery does not deny, but aggravates, the injury from enemies.

15. Let death, &c.--or, "Desolations are on them."

let them go--literally, "they will go."

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

among them--or, "within them," in their hearts (Psa 5:9; 49:11).

16-18. God answers his constant and repeated prayers.

19. God hears the wicked in wrath.

abideth--or, "sitteth."

of old--enthroned as a sovereign.

Because ... no changes--Prosperity hardens them (Psa 73:5).

20-21. The treachery is aggravated by hypocrisy. The changes of number, Psa 55:15, 23, and here, enliven the picture, and imply that the chief traitor and his accomplices are in view together.

22. thy burden--literally, "gift," what is assigned you.

he shall sustain--literally, "supply food," and so all need (Psa 37:25; Mt 6:11).

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

23. bloody ... days--(compare Psa 5:6; 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.