| Psalms 55 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN ON NEGINOTH, MASCHIL, A PSALM OF DAVID This heading is translated by S. R. Hirsch as meaning: TO HIM WHO GRWANTS VICTORY THROUGH THE POWER OF MUSIC; AN INSTRUCTION BY DAVID. [Psalms 55:1] GIVE EAR TO MY PRAYER, O GOD; AND HIDE NOT THYSELF FROM MY SUPPLICATION. S.R. Hirsch opines that this Psalm is connected with the rebellion of Absalom the son of David and the betrayal by Ahitophel who was the erstwhile friend and counselor of David but joined up with Absalom. Cf. [2-Samuel 15:31] AND ONE TOLD DAVID, SAYING, AHITHOPHEL IS AMONG THE CONSPIRATORS WITH ABSALOM. AND DAVID SAID, O LORD, I PRAY THEE, TURN THE COUNSEL OF AHITHOPHEL INTO FOOLISHNESS. [Psalms 55:2] ATTEND UNTO ME, AND HEAR ME: I MOURN IN MY COMPLAINT, AND MAKE A NOISE; <<MAKE A NOISE>>: Hebrew: "ahima", ("grow in agitation", S. R. Hirsch). [Psalms 55:3] BECAUSE OF THE VOICE OF THE ENEMY, BECAUSE OF THE OPPRESSION OF THE WICKED: FOR THEY CAST INIQUITY UPON ME, AND IN WRATH THEY HATE ME. <<FOR THEY CAST INIQUITY UPON ME>>: They attribute sins and evil intention to me . IN <<WRATH THEY HATE ME>>: They stir up anger against my alleged misdemeanors and shortcomings which anger leads to hatred of me. [Psalms 55:4] MY HEART IS SORE PAINED WITHIN ME: AND THE TERRORS OF DEATH ARE FALLEN UPON ME. Iam hurt by their attitude, aftraid of death and of not being able to complete the good works I had intended and could carry out. [Psalms 55:5] FEARFULNESS AND TREMBLING ARE COME UPON ME, AND HORROR HATH OVERWHELMED ME. [Psalms 55:6] AND I SAID, OH THAT I HAD WINGS LIKE A DOVE! FOR THEN WOULD I FLY AWAY, AND BE AT REST. [Psalms 55:7] LO, THEN WOULD I WANDER FAR OFF, AND REMAIN IN THE WILDERNESS. SELAH. [Psalms 55:8] I WOULD HASTEN MY ESCAPE FROM THE WINDY STORM AND TEMPEST. [Psalms 55:9] DESTROY, O LORD, AND DIVIDE THEIR TONGUES: FOR I HAVE SEEN VIOLENCE AND STRIFE IN THE CITY. My opponents are no good and no good is coming from them. They bring with them only evil results. [Psalms 55:10] DAY AND NIGHT THEY GO ABOUT IT UPON THE WALLS THEREOF: MISCHIEF ALSO AND SORROW ARE IN THE MIDST OF IT. Sin and bad intention breeds sorrow. [Psalms 55:11] WICKEDNESS IS IN THE MIDST THEREOF: DECEIT AND GUILE DEPART NOT FROM HER STREETS. The enemy has just arrived and acceded to power but he has unleashed vile and evil impulses that hurt the inhabitants. [Psalms 55:12] 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: [Psalms 55:13] BUT IT WAS THOU, A MAN MINE EQUAL, MY GUIDE, AND MINE ACQUAINTANCE. Ahitophel had been a friend and consellor of David. <<MY GUIDE>>: Hebrew: "aluphi" connoting guidance and instruction from the root "ALP". From the same source we derive the English word "help". [Psalms 55:14] WE TOOK SWEET COUNSEL TOGETHER, AND WALKED UNTO THE HOUSE OF GOD IN COMPANY. Not only were we of one mind and in mutual consultation reached positive decisions but we also worshipped together. You were God-fearing along with myself. We helped each other along the right path. What happened to us? What happened to you? For all my faults I at least did not cause suffering through evil intent. [Psalms 55:15] LET DEATH SEIZE UPON THEM, AND LET THEM GO DOWN QUICK INTO HELL: FOR WICKEDNESS IS IN THEIR DWELLINGS, AND AMONG THEM. Let there be an end to it. Whatever virtues and qualifications they may have they are causing disaster and evil. This springs from their own inner badness. They are rotten apples that need to be disposed of. [Psalms 55:16] AS FOR ME, I WILL CALL UPON GOD; AND THE LORD SHALL SAVE ME. Whatever bad I did I returned to God and HE is with me. That is the bottom line. [Psalms 55:17] EVENING, AND MORNING, AND AT NOON, WILL I PRAY, AND CRY ALOUD: AND HE SHALL HEAR MY VOICE. I will pray and I am able to pray. That is my strength and God will hear me. [Psalms 55:18] HE HATH DELIVERED MY SOUL IN PEACE FROM THE BATTLE THAT WAS AGAINST ME: FOR THERE WERE MANY WITH ME. God helped me from the battle against me because my fate was that of many who identified with me and needed me. [Psalms 55:19] GOD SHALL HEAR, AND AFFLICT THEM, EVEN HE THAT ABIDETH OF OLD. SELAH. BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO CHANGES, THEREFORE THEY FEAR NOT GOD. We would suggest that this verse be understood from the Hebrew to say: GOD SHALL HEAR, AND GIVE THEM AN ANSWER, HE IS GOD THAT ABIDETH OF OLD. SELAH. WHO DOES NOT CHANGE, [THEY WILL BE ANSWERED WITH REQUITAL BECAUSE] THEY DID NOT FEAR GOD. [Psalms 55:20] HE HATH PUT FORTH HIS HANDS AGAINST SUCH AS BE AT PEACE WITH HIM: HE HATH BROKEN HIS COVENANT. Now David is speaking against Ahitophel or prehaps against his son son Absalom who had first killed his brother and then returned to Jerusalem possibly after agreeing to certain undertakings that he did not abide by. [Psalms 55:21] THE WORDS OF HIS MOUTH WERE SMOOTHER THAN BUTTER, BUT WAR WAS IN HIS HEART: HIS WORDS WERE SOFTER THAN OIL, YET WERE THEY DRAWN SWORDS. This also could apply to eith Absalom or Ahiutophel or both together. [Psalms 55:22] CAST THY BURDEN UPON THE LORD, AND HE SHALL SUSTAIN THEE: HE SHALL NEVER SUFFER THE RIGHTEOUS TO BE MOVED. <<SUSTAIN THEE>>: Hebrew "yicalacalecha" also meaing "give you food". If you trust in God and do your best to serve Him HE will look after you and provide your sustenance. [Psalms 55:23] BUT THOU, O GOD, SHALT BRING THEM DOWN INTO THE PIT OF DESTRUCTION: BLOODY AND DECEITFUL MEN SHALL NOT LIVE OUT HALF THEIR DAYS; BUT I WILL TRUST IN THEE. |