Psalms 55:1-8

1 To the Overseer with stringed instruments. -- An instruction, by David. Give ear, O God, [to] my prayer, And hide not from my supplication.

2 Attend to me, and answer me, I mourn in my meditation, and make a noise,

3 Because of the voice of an enemy, Because of the oppression of the wicked, For they cause sorrow to move against me, And in anger they hate me.

4 My heart is pained within me, And terrors of death have fallen on me.

5 Fear and trembling come in to me, And horror doth cover me.

6 And I say, `Who doth give to me a pinion as a dove? I fly away and rest,

7 Lo, I move far off, I lodge in a wilderness. Selah.

8 I hasten escape for myself, From a rushing wind, from a whirlwind.

Psalms 55:1-8 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.