PSALM LV _David, in great danger and distress from the implacable malice_ _of his enemies, calls on God for mercy_, 1-5; _wishes he had the wings of a dove, that he might flee away,_ _and be at rest_, 6-8; _prays against his enemies, and describes their wickedness_, 9-11; _speaks of a false fr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 55:2. _I MOURN IN MY COMPLAINT_] בשיחי _besichi_, in my _sighing_; a strong _guttural_ sound, expressive of the natural accents of sorrow. _AND MAKE A NOISE_] I am in a _tumult _- I am strongly _agitated_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 55:3. _THEY CAST INIQUITY UPON ME_] To give a colourable pretense to their rebellion, they charge me with horrible crimes; as if they had said: Down with such a wretch; he is not fit to reign. Clamour against the person of the sovereign is always the watch-word of _insurrection_, in ref... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 55:4. _THE TERRORS OF DEATH ARE FALLEN UPON ME._] I am in hourly expectation of being massacred.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 55:5. _FEARFULNESS_] How natural is this description! He is in _distress_; - he _mourns_; - _makes a noise_; - _sobs_ and _sighs_; - his _heart is wounded _- he expects nothing but _death_; - this produces _fear_; - this produces _tremor_, which terminates in that _deep_ _apprehension_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 55:6. _O THAT I HAD WINGS LIKE A DOVE!_] He was so surrounded, so hemmed in on every side by his adversaries, that he could see no way for his escape unless he had wings, and could take flight. The _dove_ is a bird of very rapid wing; and some oil them passing before his eyes at the tim... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 55:7. _WOULD I WANDER FAR OFF_] He did escape; and yet his enemies were _so near_, as to _throw stones at him_: but he escaped beyond Jordan. 2 Samuel 17:22-10. A passage in the _Octavia_ of SENECA has been referred to as being parallel to this of David. It is in the answer of _Octavia... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 55:8. _THE WINDY STORM_] From the sweeping wind and tempest-Absalom and his party and the mutinous people in general.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 55:9. _DESTROY, O LORD_] _Swallow them up_-confound them. _DIVIDE THEIR TONGUES_] Let his counsellors give opposite advice. Let them never agree, and let their devices be confounded. And the prayer was heard. Hushai and Ahithophel gave opposite counsel. Absalom followed that of _Hushai... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 55:10. _DAY AND NIGHT THEY GO ABOUT_] This and the following verse show the state of Jerusalem at this time. Indeed, they exhibit a fair view of the state of any city in the beginning of an _insurrection_. The leaders are plotting continually; going about to strengthen their party, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 55:12. IT WAS _NOT AN ENEMY_] It is likely that in all these _three_ verses Ahithophel is meant, who, it appears, had been at the bottom of the conspiracy from the beginning; and probably was the first mover of the vain mind of Absalom to do what he did.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 55:14. _WALKED UNTO THE HOUSE OF GOD IN COMPANY._] Or with haste; for the rabbins teach that we should walk _hastily_ TO the temple, but _slowly_ FROM it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 55:15. _LET DEATH SEIZE UPON THEM_] This is a prediction of the sudden destruction which should fall on the ringleaders in this rebellion. And it was so. _Ahithophel_, seeing his counsel rejected, _hanged_ himself. _Absalom_ was defeated; and, fleeing away, he was suspended by the hair... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 55:16. _I WILL CALL UPON GOD_] He foresaw his deliverance, and the defeat of his enemies, and therefore speaks confidently, "The Lord shall save me;" or, as the _Targum_, "The WORD of the Lord shall redeem me.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 55:17. _EVENING, AND MORNING, AND AT NOON, WILL I PRAY_] This was the custom of the pious Hebrews. See Daniel 6:10. The Hebrews began their day in the _evening_, and hence David mentions the _evening first_. The rabbins say, Men should pray three times each day, because the day changes... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 55:18. _HE HATH DELIVERED MY SOUL_] My _life_ he has preserved in perfect safety from the sword; _for there were many with me_: "for in many afflictions his WORD was my support." - _Targum_. Or David may refer to the _supernatural assistance_ which was afforded him when his enemies were... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 55:19. _BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO CHANGES_] At first Absalom, Ahithophel, and their party, carried all before them. There seemed to be a very general defection of the people; and as in their first attempts they suffered no _reverses_, therefore they feared not God. Most of those who have few... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 55:20. _HE HATH PUT FORTH HIS HANDS_] A farther description of Ahithophel. He betrayed his friends, and he broke his covenant with his king. He had agreed to serve David for his own emolument, and a stipulation was made accordingly; but while receiving the king's pay, he was endeavourin... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 55:21. _WERE SMOOTHER THAN BUTTER_] He was a complete courtier, and a deep, designing hypocrite besides. His words _were as soft as_ _butter, and as smooth as oil_, while he meditated war; and the fair words which were intended to _deceive_, were intended also to _destroy_: they _were... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 55:22. _CAST THY BURDEN UPON THE LORD_] Whatever cares, afflictions, trials, c., they may be with which thou art oppressed, lay them upon him. _AND HE SHALL SUSTAIN THEE_] He shall bear both thee and thy burden. What a glorious promise to a tempted and afflicted soul! God will carry bo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Psalms 55:23. _BUT THOU, O GOD, SHALT BRING THEM DOWN INTO THE PIT OF_ _DESTRUCTION_] The _Chaldee_ is emphatic: "And thou, O Lord, by thy WORD (במימרך _bemeymerach_) shalt thrust them into the deep gehenna, the bottomless pit, whence they shall never come out; the _pit of_ _destruction_, wher... [ Continue Reading ]