Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Psalms 55
Verses 1-23
PSALM 55
Ps 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 Ps 13:1; 27:9), withhold not help.
Verses 2
2. The terms of the last clause express full indulgence of grief.
Verses 3
3. oppression—literally, "persecution."
they … iniquity—literally, "they make evil doings slide upon me."
Verses 4
4, 5. express great alarm.
Verses 5
5. come upon—or literally, "into."
Verses 6
6. be at rest—literally, "dwell," that is, permanently.
Verses 7
7, 8. Even a wilderness is a safer place than exposure to such evils, terrible as storm and tempest.
Verses 8-9
9. Destroy—literally, "swallow" (Ps 21:9).
divide their tongues—or, "confound their speech," and hence their counsels (Ge 11:7).
the city—perhaps Jerusalem, the scene of anarchy.
Verses 10
10, 11. which is described in detail (compare Ps 7:14-16).
Verses 11
11. Wickedness—literally, "Mischief," evils resulting from others (Ps 5:9; 52:2, 7).
streets—or literally, "wide places," markets, courts of justice, and any public place.
Verses 12
12-14. This description of treachery does not deny, but aggravates, the injury from enemies.
Verses 13
13. guide—literally, "friend" (Pr 16:28; 17:9).
acquaintance—in Hebrew, a yet more intimate associate.
Verses 14
14. in company—literally, "with a crowd," in a festal procession.
Verses 15
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 (Ps 5:9; 49:11).
Verses 16
16-18. God answers his constant and repeated prayers.
Verses 17-18
18. many with me—that is, by the context, fighting with me.
Verses 19
19. God hears the wicked in wrath.
abideth—or, "sitteth."
of old—enthroned as a sovereign.
Because … no changes—Prosperity hardens them (Ps 73:5).
Verses 20
20, 21. The treachery is aggravated by hypocrisy. The changes of number, Ps 55:15, 23, and here, enliven the picture, and imply that the chief traitor and his accomplices are in view together.
Verses 21-22
22. thy burden—literally, "gift," what is assigned you.
he shall sustain—literally, "supply food," and so all need (Ps 37:25; Mt 6:11).
to be moved—from the secure position of His favor (compare Ps 10:6).
Verses 23
23. bloody … days—(compare Ps 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.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory (1871). Public domain.