Psa 55:1-5 | Clarke | STEP | David, in great danger and distress from the implacable malice of his enemies, calls on God for mercy, ; wishes he had the wings of a dove, that he might flee away, and be at rest, ; prays against his enemies, and describes their wickedness, ; speaks of a false friend, who had been the principal cause of all his distresses, ; again prays against his enemies, ; expresses his confidence in God, ; gives a farther description of the deceitful friend, ; encourages himself in the Lord, and foretells the destruction of his foes, , . The title, "To the chief Musician upon Neginoth, A Psalm of David, giving instruction." This is the same as the preceding, (note), which see. Verse 1 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.

Psalms 55:1-5

Introduction

David, in great danger and distress from the implacable malice of his enemies, calls on God for mercy, Psa 55:1-5; wishes he had the wings of a dove, that he might flee away, and be at rest, Psa 55:6-8; prays against his enemies, and describes their wickedness, Psa 55:9-11; speaks of a false friend, who had been the principal cause of all his distresses, Psa 55:12-14; again prays against his enemies, Psa 55:15; expresses his confidence in God, Psa 55:16-18; gives a farther description of the deceitful friend, Psa 55:19-21; encourages himself in the Lord, and foretells the destruction of his foes, Psa 55:22, Psa 55:23.

The title, "To the chief Musician upon Neginoth, A Psalm of David, giving instruction." This is the same as the preceding, Psa 54:1-7 (note), which see.

Verse 1

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. Verse 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. Verse 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 reference to rebellion. Verse 4

The terrors of death are fallen upon me - I am in hourly expectation of being massacred. Verse 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 of approaching and inevitable ruin that overwhelms him with horror. No man ever described a wounded heart like David.