Teks -- Psalms 55:1-5 (NET)

Psalm 55

55:1 For the music director, to be accompanied by stringed instruments; a well-written song by David. Listen, O God, to my prayer! Do not ignore my appeal for mercy! 55:2 Pay attention to me and answer me! I am so upset and distressed, I am beside myself, 55:3 because of what the enemy says, and because of how the wicked pressure me, for they hurl trouble down upon me and angrily attack me. 55:4 My heart beats violently within me; the horrors of death overcome me. 55:5 Fear and panic overpower me; terror overwhelms me.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Psa 55:3 - Voice

Their clamours and threats, and slanders.

Wesley: Psa 55:3 - Cast

They lay many crimes to my charge.

Wesley: Psa 55:4 - The terrors

Deadly terrors; such as seize upon men in the agonies of death.

JFB: Psa 55:1

In great terror on account of enemies, and grieved by the treachery of a friend, the Psalmist offers an earnest prayer for relief. He mingles confident assurances of divine favor to himself with invocations and predictions of God's avenging judgments on the wicked. The tone suits David's experience, both in the times of Saul and Absalom, though perhaps neither was exclusively before his mind. (Psa. 55:1-23)

JFB: Psa 55:1 - hide not thyself, &c.

(compare Psa 13:1; Psa 27:9), withhold not help.

JFB: Psa 55:2

The terms of the last clause express full indulgence of grief.

JFB: Psa 55:3 - oppression

Literally, "persecution."

JFB: Psa 55:3 - they . . . iniquity

Literally, "they make evil doings slide upon me."

JFB: Psa 55:4-5

Express great alarm.

JFB: Psa 55:5 - come upon

Or literally, "into."

Clarke: Psa 55:1 - Give ear to my prayer

Give ear to my prayer - The frequency of such petitions shows the great earnestness of David’ s soul. If God did not hear and help, he knew he could not succeed elsewhere; therefore he continues to knock at the gate of God’ s mercy.

Clarke: Psa 55:2 - I mourn in my complaint

I mourn in my complaint - בשיחי besichi , in my sighing; a strong guttural sound, expressive of the natural accents of sorrow

Clarke: Psa 55:2 - And make a noise

And make a noise - I am in a tumult - I am strongly agitated.

Clarke: Psa 55:3 - They cast iniquity upon me

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 reference to rebellion.

Clarke: Psa 55:4 - The terrors of death are fallen upon me

The terrors of death are fallen upon me - I am in hourly expectation of being massacred.

Clarke: Psa 55:5 - Fearfulness

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 of approaching and inevitable ruin that overwhelms him with horror. No man ever described a wounded heart like David.

Calvin: Psa 55:1 - Give ear to my prayer, O God!

1.Give ear to my prayer, O God! From the language with which the psalm opens, we may conclude that David at this time was laboring under heavy distress. It could be no ordinary amount of it which produced such an overwhelming effect upon a saint of his distinguished courage. The translation which has been given of אריד , arid, I will prevail, does violence to the context, for, so far from boasting of the fortitude which would govern his address, he is anxious to convey an impression of his wretchedness, by intimating that he was constrained to cry out aloud. What is added in the third verse, By reason of the voice of the enemy, may be viewed as connected either with the first verse or that immediately preceding, or with both. By the voice some understand such a noise as is occasioned by a multitude of men; as if he had said, that the enemy was mustering many troops against him: but he rather alludes to the threatenings which we may suppose that Saul was in the habit of venting upon this innocent prophet. The interpretation, too, which has been given of the casting of iniquity upon him, as if it meant that his enemies loaded him with false accusations, is strained, and scarcely consistent with the context. The words are designed to correspond with the succeeding clause, where it is said that his enemies fought against him in wrath; and, therefore, to cast iniquity upon him means, in my opinion, no more than to discharge their unjust violence upon him for his destruction, or iniquitously to plot his ruin. If any distinction be intended between the two clauses, perhaps the fighting against him in wrath may refer to their open violence, and the casting of iniquity upon him ²⁹⁶ to their deceitful treachery. In this case, און , aven, which I have rendered iniquity, will signify hidden malice. The affliction of the wicked is here to be understood in the active sense of persecution. And in applying the term wicked to his enemies, he does not so much level an accusation against them as implicitly assert his own innocence. Our greatest comfort under persecution is conscious rectitude, the reflection that we have not deserved it; for there springs from this the hope that we will experience the help of the Lord, who is the shield and defense of the distressed.

Calvin: Psa 55:4 - My heart trembles within me

4.My heart trembles within me ²⁹⁹ Here we have additional evidence of the extremity of David’s sufferings. He that uses these words was no soft or effeminate person, but one who had given indubitable proofs of constancy. Nor is it merely of the atrocious injuries inflicted upon him by his enemies that he complains. He exclaims that he is overwhelmed with terrors, and thus acknowledges that his heart was not insensible to his afflictions. We may learn from the passage, therefore, not only that the sufferings which David endured at this time were heavy, but that the fortitude of the greatest servants of God fails them in the hour of severe trial. We are all good soldiers so long as things go well with us, but when brought to close combat, our weakness is soon apparent. Satan avails himself of the advantage, suggests that God has withdrawn the supports of his Spirit, and instigates us to despair. Of this we have an example in David, who is here represented as struggling with inward fears, as well as a complication of outward calamities, and sustaining a sore conflict of spirit in his application to the throne of God. The expression, terrors of death, shows that he was on the very eve of sinking unless Divine grace interposed.

TSK: Psa 55:1 - Give // hide

Give : Psa 5:1, Psa 17:1, Psa 64:1, Psa 80:1, Psa 84:8; 1Pe 3:12

hide : Psa 28:1, Psa 80:4, Psa 143:7; Lam 3:8

TSK: Psa 55:2 - I mourn

I mourn : Psa 13:1, Psa 13:2, Psa 32:3, Psa 38:6, Psa 43:2, Psa 102:9, Psa 102:10; Isa 38:14

TSK: Psa 55:3 - oppression // for they

oppression : Psa 12:5, Psa 54:3, Psa 73:8; Lam 3:34-36

for they : Psa 27:12, Psa 35:11; 2Sa 15:3, 2Sa 16:7, 2Sa 16:8, 2Sa 19:19; Mat 26:59

TSK: Psa 55:4 - My // terrors

My : Psa 6:3, Psa 69:20, Psa 88:3, Psa 102:3-5; Mat 26:37, Mat 26:38; Mar 14:33, Mar 14:34; Joh 12:27; 2Co 1:8-10

terrors : Psa 18:4, Psa 18:5, Psa 116:3; Isa 38:10-13; Heb 5:7

TSK: Psa 55:5 - Fearfulness // horror // overwhelmed

Fearfulness : Psa 119:120; 2Sa 15:14; Job 6:4, Job 23:15, Job 23:16

horror : Psa 42:6, Psa 61:2, Psa 88:15, Psa 88:16; Luk 22:44

overwhelmed : Heb. covered

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Psa 55:2

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

Poole: Psa 55:3 - The voice of the enemy // They cast iniquity upon me // They hate 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. They make me the great object of their wicked, and injurious, and mischievous practices; or,

2. They lay many crimes to my charge falsely, as if by my wickedness I was the cause of all my calamities.

They hate me their anger and rage against me is no sudden and transitory passion, but is boiled up into malice and hatred.

Poole: Psa 55:4 - My heart is sore pained within me // The terrors of death

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.

The terrors of death either deadly terrors, such as seize upon men in the agonies of death; or fear of death; which is the more grievous to me, because my death will reflect dishonour upon thee, and bring many miseries upon the people.

Haydock: Psa 55:1

A prayer of David in danger and distress.

Haydock: Psa 55:1 - Geth

Geth. Before (Berthier) or after his escape to the cave of Odollam, (Calmet) he composed this psalm, to comfort his followers with the consideration of God's protection. (Haydock) ---

See 1 Kings xxii., and Psalm x. The title is variously rendered. St. Jerome, "to the victor for the dumb dove," &c. Protestants, "upon Jonath elem rechokim Michtam of David." This is to elude the difficulty, and we might as well adhere to the Septuagint, who seem to have only added, "from the sanctuary." The psalm may suit any one in distress, (Berthier) unable to attend the public service, (Worthington) or it may be understood of our Saviour's passion. (Berthier)

Haydock: Psa 55:2 - Man

Man. All combine against me. (Calmet) ---

The sins of every man oppressed Jesus Christ. (Berthier) ---

All who live piously, must suffer many attacks. (Worthington)

Haydock: Psa 55:4 - The height of the day // Fear

The height of the day. That is, even at noon day, when the sun is the highest, I am still in danger. (Challoner) ---

Hebrew, "many fight against me from an elevation, or from day-break." ---

Fear. Many prefix a negation, which St. Jerome rejects, (ad Sun.) explaining this height of the divine majesty. (Calmet) ---

David felt the impressions of fear; but corrected them by his confidence in God. (Worthington)

Haydock: Psa 55:5 - My words // Detested

My words. The words or promises God has made in my favour. (Challoner) ---

Praising God (Haydock) removed the dejection of David. (Eusebius) ---

Detested. Protestants, "wrest." They put an evil construction upon what I say, (Haydock) and make me their laughing-stock, Psalm xxxvii. 13. (Calmet) ---

But I cease not to proclaim what God has declared in my favour, (Haydock) or what good I have been enabled to effect by his grace. My enemies may meet to devise my ruin, and to supplant me: yet all in vain. (Worthington)

Gill: Psa 55:1 - Give ear to my prayer, O God // and hide not thyself from my supplication

Give ear to my prayer, O God,.... Which was for that which is just and right, and equitable to be given, as the word ⁿ used signifies; being promised in the covenant of grace, ratified and confirmed by the blood of Christ, Not only David was a man much given to prayer, as well as was the sweet psalmist of Israel; but the Messiah, as man, was much and often engaged in this work, in the days of his flesh, Luk 6:12;

and hide not thyself from my supplication; made for mercies and blessings, which spring from the free grace and goodness of God, which is the sense of the word ^o here used; and such are all mercies, whether temporal or spiritual; for none are merited by men: and from his supplication for such things the psalmist desires, that as he would not be as one deaf to him, so that he would not hide his eyes, or refuse to look upon him, and deny his, requests; see Isa 1:15.

Gill: Psa 55:2 - Attend unto me, and hear me // I mourn in my complaint // and make a noise

Attend unto me, and hear me,.... So as to answer, and that immediately and directly, his case requiring present help;

I mourn in my complaint; or "in my meditation" ^p; solitary thoughts, and melancholy views of things. Saints have their complaints, on account of their sins and corruptions, their barrenness and unfruitfulness, and the decay of vital religion in them; and because of the low estate of Zion, the declining state of the interest of Christ, and the little success of his Gospel; and they mourn, in these complaints, over their own sins, and the sins of others, professors and profane, and under afflictions temporal and spiritual, both their own and the church's. Christ also, in the days of his flesh, had his complaints of the perverseness and faithlessness of the generation of men among whom he lived; of the frowardness, pride and contentions of his disciples; of the reproaches, insult, and injuries of his enemies; and of the dereliction of his God and Father; and he often mourned on account of one or other of these things, being a man of sorrows and acquainted with griefs;

and make a noise; not only with sighs and groans, but in so loud a manner as to be called roaring; see Psa 22:1.

Gill: Psa 55:3 - Because of the voice of the enemy // because of the oppression of the wicked // for they cast iniquity upon me // and in wrath they hate me

Because of the voice of the enemy,.... Of Absalom, as Arama; or of Ahithophel, who gave out he would smite the king only, 2Sa 17:2; and so of any spiritual enemy, as sin, Satan, and the world, when they threaten dominion and tyranny; and of the Scribes and Pharisees reproaching Christ, as being a Samaritan, and having a devil, and doing his miracles by his assistance; menacing, insulting, and triumphing over him, when on the cross;

because of the oppression of the wicked; of Absalom or Ahithophel, as Arama; who conspired against David, and obliged him to quit his palace, and the city of Jerusalem; and is applicable to the troubles which surround the people of God, from every quarter, by wicked men, and to our Lord's being enclosed by them at the time of his Crucifixion, Psa 22:12;

for they cast iniquity upon me; laid things to his charge he knew not: so wicked men falsely accuse the good conversation of the saints; and so the Jews imputed crimes to Christ he was innocent of; as immorality, sedition, blasphemy, &c.

and in wrath they hate me; as they do all the people of God, because chosen and called, and separated from them: and so they did Christ, and with a mortal hatred, though without a cause.

Gill: Psa 55:4 - My heart is sore pained within me // and the terrors of death are fallen upon me

My heart is sore pained within me,.... At the civil war in his kingdom; at the battle likely to ensue between his forces and Absalom's, and at the issue of it; see Jer 4:19; this was true of Christ in the garden, when his soul was exceeding sorrowful unto death, and he was in pain, as a woman in travail, as the word ^q here used signifies; and on the cross, when his heart, like wax, melted in the midst of his bowels;

and the terrors of death are fallen upon me; see 2Sa 15:14; thus it was with the human nature of Christ, when he desired, if possible, the cup might pass from him.

Gill: Psa 55:5 - Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me // and horror hath overwhelmed me

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", Mar 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.