G4 S1 e 1,2. Prayer. Despondency.
f 3-5. Reason. "For".
e 6-9-. Prayer. Encouragement.
f -9-11. Reason. "For".
T1 12-14. Treachery of Ahithophel.
S2 g 15-. Prayer. Imprecatory.
h -15. Reason. "For".
g 16-18-. Prayer. Encouragement.
h -18,19. Reason. "For".
T2 20,21. Treachery of Ahithophel.
S3 i 22-. Prayer. Encouragement.
k -22. Reason. Assurance.
i 23-. Prayer. Imprecatory.
k -23. Reason. Assurance.
934 B.C.
Psalm 55)
1 Give ear to my prayer, O God;
And hide not Yourself from my supplication.
2 Attend to me, and answer me:
I mourn in my complaint, and mourn;
3 Because of the voice of the enemy,
Because of the oppression (or outcry) of the wicked:
For they cast iniquitous words (or devises) upon me,
And in wrath they hate me.
4 My heart is sore pained within me:
And the terrors of death are fallen upon me. (Cp. the words of the true David [John 13:21] in reference to the Anti-type [v.18. Matt. 26:38].)
5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me,
And horror has overwhelmed me.
6 And I said, "Oh that I had wings like a dove!
For then would I fly away, and be at rest.
7 Lo, then would I wander far off,
And lodge (see Matt. 21:17. Cp. Luke 21:37. Jer. 9:2) in the wilderness. (Cp. 2 Sam. 15:28; 17:16.) Selah. (Connecting his despondency with his escape from the cause of it. It was not merely comfort he desired, but deliverance.)
8 I would hasten my escape (Cp. 2 Sam. 15:14.)
From the wind of storm and tempest."
9 Destroy, O Lord, and cleave (as in Gen. 10:25; 11:1-9) their counsels: (This prayer was literally answered [2 Sam. 17:1-14].)
For I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof:
Mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
11 Depravities (Heb. havah = cupidity) is in the midst thereof:
Oppression (or violence) and guile depart not from her streets.
12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me;
Then I could have borne it:
Neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me;
Then I would have hid myself from him:
13 But it was you, a mortal as my equal, (I.e. esteemed by David as such; refers to Ahithophel.)
My guide (or counselor. Cp. 2 Sam. 16:23 and Acts 1:17), and my acquaintance.
14 We took sweet counsel together,
And walked to the house of God with the multitude.
15 Let death seize upon them,
And let them go down alive (cp. Num. 16:30-33) into hell (Sheol):
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, will I meditate, and cry aloud: (Heb. hamah = to make a loud noise. Onomatopoetic, like bees, or the cooing of a dove in Ezek. 7:16)
And He shall hear my voice.
18 He has plucked (with power. See Ex. 6:6; 13:13) me [and set it] in peace from the battle that was against me:
For there were many [in conflict] with me.
19 God (Heb. El. The mighty Creator because in conflict with His creatures) shall hear me, and answer them,
Even he that abides of old. Selah. (Connecting the true confidence of David with the false confidence of the ungodly. David's true confidence was based on the fact that his GOD was the mighty One enduring forever. "El" here is emphasized by the double accent Pasek, or "note line' each side of it.)
With whom are no changes [for the better] (i.e. no improvement), (See note on "alter" [Lev. 27:10]. Heb. halaph. Cp. Gen. 35:2)
Therefore they fear not God.
20 He (i.e. Ahithophel) has put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him:
He has broken his covenant. (By his disloyalty.)
21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter,
But war was in his heart: (Cp. 2 Sam. 14;33 with 15:5,6. Referring to v.19.)
His words were softer than oil,
Yet were they drawn swords.
22 Commit you gift (those very words of v.21) to the LORD, and He shall hold you up: (Quoted in 1 Pet. 5;7)
He shall never suffer the righteous one to be moved.
23 But You, O God, shall bring them down into the pit of destruction:
Men of great bloodshed and deceit shall not live out half their days;
But I will confide in You.