Psalms 55:7

7 truly, I would flee far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; (Selah)

Psalms 55:7 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 55:7

Lo, [then] would I wander far off, [and] remain in the
wilderness
So David did when he fled from Absalom, ( 2 Samuel 15:23 2 Samuel 15:27 2 Samuel 15:28 ) ( 2 Samuel 16:1 2 Samuel 16:2 ) ; so gracious souls desire to be; not in the wilderness of the people; but to be solitary as in a wilderness, clear of the company of wicked men, as Jeremiah wished for, ( Jeremiah 9:2 ) ; and that they might be more at leisure for and given up unto spiritual devotion, and be secure from their enemies: and as this may be applied to Christ, it shows the wickedness, cruelty, and barbarity of the men of that generation among whom he lived; that he chose rather to be in the wilderness, among wild beasts, than to dwell among them, ( Matthew 17:17 ) ( Isaiah 53:8 ) ; some apply this to the state of the primitive church under Jewish persecution, when it fled from Judea, and settled in the wilderness of the Gentiles; the preachers of the word being scattered abroad by the windy storm and tempest of persecution, and the Gospel taken from the Jews, and carried to a nation bringing forth the fruit of it, where it has remained ever since. With this may be compared the state of the church under Rome Pagan, in ( Revelation 12:6 Revelation 12:13 Revelation 12:14 ) .

Selah; on this word, (See Gill on Psalms 3:2).

Psalms 55:7 In-Context

5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.
6 And I say, "O that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest;
7 truly, I would flee far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; (Selah)
8 I would hurry to find a shelter for myself from the raging wind and tempest."
9 Confuse, O Lord, confound their speech; for I see violence and strife in the city.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.