As for me, I will call upon God, And the Lord shall save me. Psalm 55:16
When the Enemies are Our Own Friends
This is a deeply emotional expression of David’s fear and anguish, magnified by the pain of his betrayal by those who were long-time friends. The situation described in the psalm fits the time of Absalom’s rebellion (2 Sam. 16-17). David shares his dismay at betrayal by a close friend. He cries out to God to judge the wicked, but still cannot come to grips with the fact that one of his intimates has turned against him. Yet despite the terrible experience, David remains confident that the Lord will sustain him and so casts his cares on God. Psalm 55 deals with life and death, deliverance from hell, and the abiding presence of God. It speaks prophetically of the experience of the Savior Jesus. This psalm consists of many short sections, and its choppy quality shows the deep emotion behind it.
55:1-3 Give ear to my prayer: The poem begins in a way that is common in the lament psalms. There is a call to God, a reference to the psalmist’s distress, and a notice concerning his enemy. David’s shock is not that he is in distress again or even that he has more enemies. The great shock is that the enemy is his own friend.
Give ear to my prayer, O God, And do not hide Yourself from my supplication. 2 Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily, 3 Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me, And in wrath they hate me.
55:9 David calls for God’s judgment on the wicked; he renews this call in vv. 15, 23.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues, For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
55:12-14 Here is the reason for David’s terrible pain in this psalm. It was not an ordinary enemy who had risen up against him; it was his companion, his confidant and friend. The one who betrayed him was not only a close friend, but a person with whom David had worshipped the Lord.
For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; Then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; Then I could hide from him. 13 But it was you, a man my equal, My companion and my acquaintance. 14 We took sweet counsel together, And walked to the house of God in the throng.
55:16-19 The words as for me mark a dramatic turning point in the psalm. David reverts to a stance of faith; he declares his trust in the omnipotent Lord. God will her: David reminds himself of the great acts of deliverance that God has done on his behalf in the past and the work that God will continue to do in the future. In a similar way, we should also remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness in times of distress.
16 As for me, I will call upon God, And the Lord shall save me. 17 Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice. 18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, For there were many against me. 19 God will hear, and afflict them, Even He who abides from of old. Selah Because they do not change, Therefore they do not fear God.
55:20 He has put forth his hands: David turns to describe his former friend, now his enemy. He had been completely taken in (deceived) by the man’s lies.
20 He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; He has broken his covenant.
55:22 To anyone who has experienced grief or desolation, the command to cast one’s burden on the Lord is refreshing. The Lord is the one constant in life and the one true friend. He can always bear the burden.
22 Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
⇒ Even before it happens, we should all be forewarned about the possibility of being betrayed by our close ones. And remember this psalm so that it won’t be a surprise to us.
A Prayer for the Destruction of the Deceitful
55 1 To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Contemplation of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God, And do not hide Yourself from my supplication. 2 Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily, 3 Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me, And in wrath they hate me. 4 My heart is severely pained within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me. 6 So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. 7 Indeed, I would wander far off, And remain in the wilderness. Selah 8 I would hasten my escape From the windy storm and tempest.”
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues, For I have seen violence and strife in the city. 10 Day and night they go around it on its walls; Iniquity and trouble are also in the midst of it. 11 Destruction is in its midst; Oppression and deceit do not depart from its streets. 12 For it is not an enemy who reproaches me; Then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; Then I could hide from him. 13 But it was you, a man my equal, My companion and my acquaintance. 14 We took sweet counsel together, And walked to the house of God in the throng. 15 Let death seize them; Let them go down alive into hell, For wickedness is in their dwellings and among them.
16 As for me, I will call upon God, And the Lord shall save me. 17 Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice. 18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, For there were many against me. 19 God will hear, and afflict them, Even He who abides from of old. Selah Because they do not change, Therefore they do not fear God. 20 He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; He has broken his covenant. 21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, But war was in his heart; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords. 22 Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. 23 But You, O God, shall bring them down to the pit of destruction; Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; But I will trust in You.
