Chapter 55
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
2Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
3Because 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.
4My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
5Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
6And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
7Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
8I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
11Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
12For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
13But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
14We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
15Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
16As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
17Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
18He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
19God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
20He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
21The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
22Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
23But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.
“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
Overview
Psalm 55 is David's anguished prayer born from the betrayal of a close companion. David is overwhelmed — fearfulness and trembling have come upon him, and horror has overwhelmed him. He wishes he had wings like a dove to fly away and be at rest. The city is full of violence and strife. Most painful of all, it was not an enemy who reproached him but his own companion, his guide, and his acquaintance — one with whom he walked to the house of God in company. David calls upon God to destroy the wicked and casts his burden upon the LORD, trusting that God will sustain him and never allow the righteous to be moved.
Key Themes
The Agony of Intimate Betrayal
The deepest pain comes not from enemies but from a trusted friend — the one who shared sweet counsel and walked to God's house with David.
The Desire to Escape
David's pain is so acute he wishes for dove's wings to fly far away — an honest expression of the desire to flee overwhelming circumstances.
Casting Your Burden on the LORD
The psalm's remedy for overwhelming burden is not flight but surrender — cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you.
Study Questions
Why does betrayal by a friend (vv. 12-14) hurt more than opposition from an enemy?
Is the desire to escape — to have 'wings like a dove' (v. 6) — a failure of faith or an honest human response?
What does it practically mean to 'cast thy burden upon the LORD' (v. 22)?
How does this psalm speak to those experiencing broken trust in churches or close relationships?
How does David's shift from wanting to flee to trusting God model the movement of faith?
Connection to Christ
Jesus experienced the ultimate fulfillment of this psalm's anguish when Judas — His companion who had walked with Him and shared His bread — betrayed Him with a kiss. In Gethsemane, Christ's soul was overwhelmed, yet He did not flee but cast His burden on the Father and submitted to His will. He sustains all who cast their burdens upon Him.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Psalms 55. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?