Psalms Chapter 55 — Prayer in the Face of Betrayal
The psalmist prays for deliverance from enemies and laments the deep pain caused by the betrayal of a close friend.
1Listen to my prayer, God.
2Attend to me, and answer me.
3because of the voice of the enemy,
4My heart is severely pained within me.
5Fearfulness and trembling have come on me.
6I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove!
7Behold, then I would wander far off.
8“I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.”
9Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language,
10Day and night they prowl around on its walls.
11Destructive forces are within her.
12For it was not an enemy who insulted me,
13But it was you, a man like me,
14We took sweet fellowship together.
15Let death come suddenly on them.
16As for me, I will call on God.
17Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress.
18He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,
19God, who is enthroned forever,
20He raises his hands against his friends.
21His mouth was smooth as butter,
22Cast your burden on the LORD and he will sustain you.
23But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Psalms 55:6
“I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away and be at rest.””
This verse poignantly captures the human desire to find peace and escape from overwhelming stress and conflict.
Psalms 55:17
“Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress, and he will hear my voice.”
It emphasizes the importance of constant, rhythmic communication with God throughout the day during times of trouble.
Psalms 55:22
“Cast your burden on the LORD and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”
This is a foundational biblical promise of divine support and stability for those who trust in God.
Chapter Summary
Psalm 55 is a heartfelt lament where the author expresses deep distress, fear, and a longing to escape from a world of conflict. The psalmist describes a desire to have wings like a dove to fly away from the 'stormy wind' of his enemies. A central focus of the chapter is the specific agony of betrayal by a close companion and peer with whom the psalmist once shared sweet fellowship in the house of God. Despite the treachery of those whose words are smooth as butter but hide war in their hearts, the psalmist commits to a disciplined life of prayer, calling on God every evening, morning, and noon. The chapter concludes with a powerful exhortation to cast all burdens upon the Lord, trusting that God will sustain the righteous while bringing judgment upon the deceitful.
Frequently Asked Questions
The psalmist is facing extreme fear and trembling due to the threats of enemies and the betrayal of a friend. He expresses a desire to escape his painful circumstances and find a peaceful shelter far away from the 'stormy wind' of conflict.
This refers to a close friend or equal with whom the psalmist shared spiritual fellowship and intimacy. The text emphasizes that the pain is significantly worsened because the person who turned against him was once a trusted ally, not an open enemy.
The psalmist commits to crying out to God 'evening, morning, and at noon.' This pattern indicates a lifestyle of persistent prayer as a primary means of seeking God's redemption and hearing His voice during distress.
According to verse 22, the Lord will sustain the person who casts their burden on Him. The text promises that God will not allow the righteous to be shaken, even when faced with the deceit of others.
Study Note
The description of the betrayer's speech as 'smooth as butter' while having 'war in his heart' is a classic Hebrew poetic device used to highlight hypocrisy.
Related Chapters
Psalms Chapter 41
This psalm also deals with the theme of betrayal by a close friend who shared bread with the author.
Matthew Chapter 26
This New Testament chapter records the betrayal of Jesus by His close disciple, Judas, mirroring the pain described in Psalm 55.
Psalms Chapter 27
Both chapters focus on finding confidence and refuge in God when surrounded by enemies.
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