Psalms 55
Big idea: The wish in verse 6 is the most human line in the Psalter: oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest. Not fight, not win — leave. And the reason is named precisely in verse 12: it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. It was you, a man like me, my companion, my familiar friend. We took sweet fellowship together; we walked in God's house with company. Out of that comes one of the most repeated instructions in Scripture: cast your burden on Yahweh, and he will sustain you.
Psalm 55 is betrayal from inside the friendship. Psalm 56 is capture by outright enemies, and it is calmer.
55:1–8 — Oh that I had wings like a dove
The most honest wish in the Psalter: not victory, not vindication, but escape. He wants wings, and he is specific about what he would do with them — go far off, lodge in the wilderness, get to a shelter from the storm. The psalm does not present this as a failure of nerve to be repented of. It quotes it, in his own words, and moves on.
1 For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David. Listen to my prayer, God. Don’t hide yourself from my supplication. 2 Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint, and moan 3 because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me. In anger they hold a grudge against me. 4 My heart is severely pained within me. The terrors of death have fallen on me. 5 Fearfulness and trembling have come on me. Horror has overwhelmed me. 6 I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest. 7 Behold, then I would wander far off. I would lodge in the wilderness.” Selah. 8 “I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.”
55:9–15 — It was you, my familiar friend
The trouble is inside the city and inside a friendship, and the psalm says the second part is what makes it unbearable. An enemy's insult could be endured; you can hide from someone who hates you. What has no defence is the man he walked to the temple with. The curse in verse 15 is as violent as anything in the book, and it comes straight out of that sentence.
9 Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city. 10 Day and night they prowl around on its walls. Malice and abuse are also within her. 11 Destructive forces are within her. Threats and lies don’t depart from her streets. 12 For it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it. Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him. 13 But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend. 14 We took sweet fellowship together. We walked in God’s house with company. 15 Let death come suddenly on them. Let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is among them, in their dwelling.
55:16–23 — Cast your burden on Yahweh
The last movement holds two things without reconciling them: a rhythm of prayer three times a day, and a portrait of the betrayer whose speech was butter and whose heart was war. Then verse 22 — cast your burden on Yahweh — which is spoken as advice to someone else, not as a resolution reached. The psalm's own last clause is 'but I will trust in you', still future.
16 As for me, I will call on God. Yahweh will save me. 17 Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress. He will hear my voice. 18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, although there are many who oppose me. 19 God, who is enthroned forever, will hear and answer them. Selah. They never change and don’t fear God. 20 He raises his hands against his friends. He has violated his covenant. 21 His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. 22 Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved. 23 But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in you.
Scripture text: World English Bible (public domain).