Ps. 55 THE ARGUMENT This Psalm was certainly composed by David, when he was greatly distressed and persecuted, either by Saul, or rather by Absalom, and betrayed by some pretended or former friend. David, being surrounded and surprised with danger and distress, complaineth to God, Ps.

Turn not away thy face and ear, as one resolved not to hear nor help.

For my misery is very great, and forceth tears and bitter cries from me.

The voice of the enemy, i.e. their clamours, and threats, and slanders, and insolent boastings; all which are hateful to thee, as well as injurious to me. They cast iniquity upon me: the sense is, either, 1.

My heart is sore pained within me; with pains like those of a travailing woman, as the word signifies. My heart, which hath commonly supported me in my distresses, is now ready to sink within me; therefore, Lord, pity and help me.

Like a dove; which being fearful, and pursued by birds of prey, flies away, and that very swiftly and far, and into solitary places, where it hides and secures itself in the holes of the rocks, or in some other secret and safe place; all which fitly represents David’s present disposition and…

From the force and fury of mine enemies, which now highly threaten me.

Divide their tongues, i.e. destroy them by dividing. Their tongues, i.e. their speech, as thou didst at Babel, Gen. 11:0; their votes, and opinions, and counsels; which was eminently done among Absalom’s followers, 2 Sam. 17:0. I have seen; or, I do see or perceive, by certain and general report.

They, i.e. the violence and strife last mentioned, Ps. 55:9, go about it; do encompass it, and are as it were the garrison by which they design to defend it. Upon the walls thereof; in the more outward parts, as also in the very midst of it, as it follows. So that all parts were horribly corrupted.

The places of buying and selling, and of public and common conversation. So their sins were both universal and impudent.

Not an enemy; either, 1. Not an open and professed enemy; or rather, 2. Not an old and inveterate enemy, as may be gathered from the following description. I could have borne it with more patience, because I could expect nothing else from such persons. Hated me with a manifest or old hatred.

Mine equal; not in power and dignity, which could not be, but in reputation for his deep wisdom and excellent conduct, and the great influence which he had upon me, and upon all my people.

We took sweet counsel together; I imparted my secret thoughts and designs to him with great delight and satisfaction. We walked unto the house of God; we agreed no less in exercises of piety, than in acts of state and policy.

Them, i.e. him and all such false-hearted wretches, that pretended religion with wicked design, and now have manifestly apostatized, both from the profession and practice of it, and fallen into all manner of wickedness; for such are the vilest of men, and most obnoxious to the curse of God.

Whilst he destroys them. As they and I differ in the courses of our lives, so shall we in our ends.

The three stated times of prayer amongst the Jews. See Dan. 6:10, Acts 3:1, Acts 10:3, Acts 10:9, Acts 10:30.

He hath delivered my soul: either this is an argument whereby he encourageth himself now to trust God, because of former deliverances; or lie speaks of a future deliverance as a thing done, because of the certainty of it. In peace; or, into peace.

God shall hear; either, 1. My prayers against them, mentioned Ps. 55:15. Or, 2. Their reproaches, Ps. 55:12; their deceitful and treacherous speeches, Ps. 55:21. He said God would hear his voice, Ps. 55:17; now he adds that God will hear his enemies’ voice also, of which he spake Ps. 55:3.

He, i.e. they, the persons last mentioned. Before the singular number, Ps. 55:13–14, was suddenly changed into the plural, Ps. 55:15, that the punishment might reach not him only, but his partners, in those treacherous and treasonable actions; and here is as sudden a change from the plural into the…

He covered his treasonable and bloody design with fair and flattering speeches. Drawn swords; pernicious in their design and consequences.

Thy burden, or portion, Heb. gift; whatsoever affliction God giveth or sendeth to thee; for even the sufferings of good men are called God’s gifts in Scripture, Phil. 1:29, John 18:11. So it is a synecdochical expression. Or, whatsoever gift thou desirest from him.

Shalt bring them down; my wicked enemies, of whom I have hitherto spoken. Bloody and deceitful men; that colour their cruel intentions with specious and deceitful pretences; which are most hateful to God and all men.