Psalm 55:5

5 (54-6) Fear and trembling are come upon me: and darkness hath covered me.

Psalm 55:5 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 55:5

Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me
Fear and dread of mind, and trembling of body;

and horror hath overwhelmed me;
or "covered me"; he was in the utmost consternation and surprise at what he apprehended would be the issue of things; so Christ in the garden is said to be "sore amazed", ( Mark 14:33 ) ; all which terror, fearfulness, trembling, and horror, arose from a sense of sin imputed to him, even of all the sins of his people, the faith of which must be nauseous to him, and the guilt thereof pressing upon him; and from a feeling of the wrath of God, and the curse of the law, which he endured in the room and stead of his people; and this shows the truth of his human nature, and the weakness and insufficiency of that, without his divine nature, to have performed the great work of redemption; also the evil of sin, the exceeding sinfulness of it, and the strictness of divine justice; and likewise the wonderful love of Christ in becoming a surety for his people, and what ease and pleasure they may take; all the pain, the trembling, and horror, were his, and all the joy is theirs.

Psalm 55:5 In-Context

3 (54-4) At the voice of the enemy, and at the tribulation of the sinner. For they have cast iniquities upon me: and in wrath they were troublesome to me.

4 (54-5) My heart is troubled within me: and the fear of death is fallen upon me.

5 (54-6) Fear and trembling are come upon me: and darkness hath covered me.

6 (54-7) And I said: Who will give me wings like a dove, and I will fly and be at rest?

7 (54-8) Lo, I have gone far off flying away; and I abode in the wilderness.