Trouble All Around
To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David.
1 Give ear to my prayer, O God;
And hide not thyself from my supplication.
2 Attend unto me, and hear me:
I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
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.
4 My heart is sore pained within me:
And the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me,
And horror hath 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 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 about it upon the walls thereof:
Mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof:
Deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
12 For it was not an enemy that reproached me;
Then I could have born 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 thou, a man mine equal,
My guide, and mine acquaintance.
14 We took sweet counsel together,
And walked unto the house of God in company.
15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick 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, will I pray, and cry aloud:
And he shall hear my voice.
18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me:
For there were many with me.
19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old.
Selah.
Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
20 He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him:
He hath 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 were they drawn swords.
22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee:
He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
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.
Trouble All Around
In Psalm 55, David continues the theme of responding to wicked and disloyal enemies. Here, the treachery comes from those he thought he could trust. David knows God hears his heartfelt pain and will bring swift judgment on his oppressors. David comes in prayer to God, asking Him to hear him and asking Him not to hide from him. David boldly seeks the presence of God, who will draw near to him in his time of need. “Attend unto me and hear me” (55:2). David is specific in his reasons for his request. He is responding to the voice of the wicked and his oppressors. “They hate me” (55:3). He describes the painful condition of his heart and he even fears the terrors of death.
This must have been a time when David truly felt his life was threatened. “Fearfulness and trembling have overcome me” (55:5). He is overwhelmed by horror. David wistfully sighs, “Oh that I had wings like a dove”(55:6). One can hear his desire to escape and be alone in peace. “I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest” (55:8). David is surrounded by the terror of those who wish to destroy him. “I have seen violence and strife in the city. Without ceasing, day and night, they spread mischief and sorrow” (55:9-10). This city that David sees is filled with deceit and guile.
Now, David reveals the shocking truth. It was not an enemy that reproached him; then he could have borne it. It wasn’t someone who hated him, for then he would have hidden from him. No, it was a man, his equal, his guide, his acquaintance. This was someone with whom he took sweet counsel and went to the house of God together. What alarm this brings to imagine that David was betrayed by a fellow believer. He cries out, “Let death seize upon them and let them go down quickly unto hell” (55:15). David knows they will meet their expected end. As for him, he will call upon God. Continually, evening, morning and noon, he will call out to the Lord and He will hear his voice. He repeats this certain declaration. God has delivered peace to him from the battle against him. He is also confident again in the judgment of the wicked, because they have no fear of God. They deceived with words of butter but evil was in their heart (55:21). David tells all that they can “cast thy burden upon the Lord. He shall sustain them and he will not allow the righteous to be moved” (55:22). Again, he tells the fate of the wicked is a bloody and early death. But he will trust in God.
In Psalm 55, David appears to be overwhelmed by the personal attack of someone he thought he could trust. He vividly describes the horror and terror of this battle that has left him shaken with disappointment. I could not help but think of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was betrayed by Judas. How sorrowful it must have been to feel the false kiss of a man who pretended to be your disciple but who could conspire against you for thirty pieces of silver. Judas himself could not face the horror of what he had done and took his own life. David resolved his anguish by turning to God and trusting in Him. He reminds us that we can bring all our burdens to Him. I pray that in those times I feel overwhelmed with pain or disappointment, that I reach out to the Lord to save me. I can look to Him morning, noon, or night.
I would love to hear what this Psalm brings to mind for you! Write back to me in Facebook comment or blog reply.
Disclaimer: The intention of this project is not to teach, but rather to share. Please use due diligence in studying the word of God, and seek guidance from your local religious leaders for any questions or concerns.
Debra Hill
Debra Hill is an independent inspirational singer, author, songwriter, and writer. As a blind performer, she adds a personal story of God’s faithfulness. Her life exemplifies that Christ’s power will work to lift all regardless of circumstances.
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