55:1(To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, [A Psalm] of
David.) Give ear to a my prayer, O God; and hide not
thyself from my supplication.
(a) The earnestness of his prayer declares the vehemency of
his grief in so much as he is compelled to burst out
into cries.
55:3 Because of the b voice of the enemy, because of the
oppression of the wicked: for c they cast iniquity upon
me, and in wrath they hate me.
(b) For the threatenings of Saul and his adherents.
(c) They have defamed me as a wicked person, or they have
imagined my destruction.
55:5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath
d overwhelmed me.
(d) There was no part of him that was not astonished with
extreme fear.
55:6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! [for then]
would I e fly away, and be at rest.
(e) Fear had driven him to so great distress, that he
wished to be hid in some wilderness, and to be banished
from that kingdom which God had promised that he should
enjoy.
55:8 I would hasten my escape f from the windy storm [and]
tempest.
(f) From the cruel rage and tyranny of Saul.
55:9 Destroy, O Lord, [and] g divide their tongues: for I have
seen violence and strife in the city.
(g) As in the confusion of Babylon when the wicked
conspired against God.
55:10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: h
mischief also and sorrow [are] in the midst of it.
(h) All laws and good orders are broken and only vice and
dissolution reigns under Saul.
55:12 For [it was] not an i enemy [that] reproached me; then I
could have borne [it]: neither [was it] he that hated me
[that] did magnify [himself] against me; then I would have
hid myself from him:
(i) If my open enemy had sought by hurt, I could better
have avoided him.
55:13 But [it was] thou, a man mine k equal, my guide, and
mine acquaintance.
(k) Who was not only joined to me in friendship and
counsel in worldly matters, but also in religion.
55:15 Let death seize upon them, [and] let them l go down
quick into hell: for wickedness [is] in their dwellings,
[and] among them.
(l) As Korah, Dathan and Abiram.
55:17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, m and
cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
(m) Which signifies a servants mind and sure trust to
obtain his portion, which made him earnest at all
times in prayer.
55:18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle [that
was] against me: for there were n many with me.
(n) Even the angels of God fought on my side against my
enemies, (2Ki 6:16).
55:19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of
old. Selah. Because they o have no changes, therefore
they fear not God.
(o) But their prosperous estate still continues.
55:20 He p hath put forth his hands against such as be at
peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
(p) I did not provoke him but was as at peace with him,
yet he made war against me.
55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee:
he shall q never suffer the righteous to be moved.
(q) Though for their bettering and trial, he permits them
to slip for a time.
55:23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of
destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out
r half their days; but I will trust in thee.
(r) Though they sometimes live longer, yet their life is
cursed by God, unquiet, and worse than any death.
