Psalms 55:16-23

16 As for me, I call to God, and the LORD saves me.

17 Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.

18 He rescues me unharmed from the battle waged against me, even though many oppose me.

19 God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.

20 My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant.

21 His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.

22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you.

Psalms 55:16-23 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil [A Psalm] of David. The occasion of this psalm was either the persecution of Saul, or the conspiracy of Absalom. Some think it was written when David understood that the inhabitants of Keilah would deliver him into the hands of Saul, 1 Samuel 23:12; and others when the Ziphites attempted a second time to do the same, 1 Samuel 26:1; but since a single person is spoken of that magnified himself against him, Psalm 55:12; and Ahithophel seems to be designed; it may be thought rather to be written on account of Absalom's rebellion, and Ahithophel's counsel against him; who is considered by many Christian interpreters as a type of Judas, the betrayer of our Lord; and, indeed, there are many things in this psalm, if not the whole, which may be truly applied to Christ, as will be seen in the following exposition of it.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 141:2; Acts 3:1; Acts 10:3,30
• 2. Psalms 5:3; Psalms 88:13; Psalms 92:2
• 3. Acts 10:9
• 4. S Exodus 15:18; Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalms 29:10
• 5. Psalms 78:59
• 6. Psalms 36:1; Psalms 64:4
• 7. Psalms 7:4
• 8. S Psalms 41:9; Psalms 89:34
• 9. Psalms 12:2
• 10. Proverbs 5:3; Proverbs 6:24
• 11. Psalms 28:3; Psalms 57:4; Psalms 59:7; Psalms 64:3; Proverbs 12:18; Revelation 1:16
• 12. S Psalms 18:35; Psalms 37:5; Matthew 6:25-34; 1 Peter 5:7
• 13. Psalms 15:5; Psalms 21:7; Psalms 37:24; Psalms 112:6
• 14. Psalms 9:15; S Psalms 30:3; Psalms 73:18; Psalms 94:13; Isaiah 14:15; Ezekiel 28:8; S Luke 8:31
• 15. Psalms 5:6
• 16. S Job 15:32; Proverbs 10:27
• 17. Psalms 11:1; Psalms 25:2; Psalms 56:3