Psalm 55

The Lord Saves Me

This psalm starts like so many of David's psalms; He is lamenting that the wicked surround him and plot against Him while he tries to stay close to God and seeks comfort.  Honestly, so many psalms seem to go this way, it almost seems repetitive and boring.  However, this one has a twist that not only makes it stand out, but intorduces an issue that resonates 3,000 years later; David is lamenting a betrayal by a friend.  The enemy who threatens him is someone that he used to be close to, someone who used to worship with him, someone he trusted completely.  That is a pain that most people can relate to.

David tells us that if it were an ordinary enemy, he could handle it himself, but the betrayal is so hurtful, that he seeks God's help in enduring it.  Most people can endure difficulties at the hands of strangers, but when it comes from someone you love, it is devastating.  David does the only thing he can do in this situation; If he can't trust the people closest to him, he'll have to turn to God, whom he acknowledges is eternal and just, and will always stand by him.  He "casts his cares on the Lord", because he knows that God will listen and understand.

David also warns us against hypocrisy.  The one who betrayed him used to walk with the people of God.  His words are "more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords".  This person talks a good game, and keeps up appearances, but his heart betrays him.  He is too proud of his own power.  He does not fear God, and therefore chooses not to obey God.  David assures us that this hypocrite will be destroyed by his own deceit.  Spiritual decay will soon envelop him, and God will abandon him.

When Jesus tells us that to follow Him, we must leave our loved ones behind (Luke 14),  David's situation might be what he was warning us about.  We don't have to abandon the ones we love, we just have to put our faith in God above all.  God has to be the first priority in our life, because God, unlike people, will never betray you.  When his friends turn against God, David chooses to stay with God, even if it is painful for him.  In our own lives, we often are in situations where we have to put people before God.  God always likes to remind us that He should be priority number one.

1 Listen to my prayer, O God,
    do not ignore my plea;
2     hear me and answer me.
My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught
3     because of what my enemy is saying,
    because of the threats of the wicked;
for they bring down suffering on me
    and assail me in their anger.

4 My heart is in anguish within me;
    the terrors of death have fallen on me.
5 Fear and trembling have beset me;
    horror has overwhelmed me.
6 I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
    I would fly away and be at rest.
7 I would flee far away
    and stay in the desert;
8 I would hurry to my place of shelter,
    far from the tempest and storm.”

9 Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words,
    for I see violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they prowl about on its walls;
    malice and abuse are within it.
11 Destructive forces are at work in the city;
    threats and lies never leave its streets.

12 If an enemy were insulting me,
    I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
    I could hide.
13 But it is you, a man like myself,
    my companion, my close friend,
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
    at the house of God,
as we walked about
    among the worshipers.

15 Let death take my enemies by surprise;
    let them go down alive to the realm of the dead,
    for evil finds lodging among them.

16 As for me, I call to God,
    and the Lord saves me.
17 Evening, morning and noon
    I cry out in distress,
    and he hears my voice.
18 He rescues me unharmed
    from the battle waged against me,
    even though many oppose me.
19 God, who is enthroned from of old,
    who does not change—
he will hear them and humble them,
    because they have no fear of God.

20 My companion attacks his friends;
    he violates his covenant.
21 His talk is smooth as butter,
    yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,
    yet they are drawn swords.

22 Cast your cares on the Lord
    and he will sustain you;
he will never let
    the righteous be shaken.
23 But you, God, will bring down the wicked
    into the pit of decay;
the bloodthirsty and deceitful
    will not live out half their days.

But as for me, I trust in you.