Psalm 55 Jan. 30 For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David.  1Listen to my prayer, God. Don’t hide Yourself from my supplication. 2Attend to me, and answer me. I am restless in my complaint and moan, 3because of the words of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they bring suffering on me, in anger they hold a grudge against me. 4My heart is severely pained within me, the terrors of death have come upon me. 5Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, horror has overwhelmed me. 6I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! Then I would fly away, and be at rest. 7Behold, then I would wander far off, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah. 8I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm. 9Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language, for I have seen violence and strife in the city. 10Day and night they prowl around on its walls, malice and abuse are also within her. 11Destructive forces are within her, threats and lies don’t depart from her streets. 12For it was not an enemy who insulted me, then I could have endured it; neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me, then I would have hidden myself from him. 13But it was you, a man like me, my companion, and my familiar friend. 14We took sweet fellowship together, we walked to God’s house in company. 15Let death come suddenly on them, let them go down alive into Sheol. For wickedness is in their dwelling, in their midst. 16As for me, I will call on God. Yahweh will save me. 17Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress; He will hear my voice. 18He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, although there are many who oppose me. 19God, who is enthroned forever, will hear, and answer them. Selah.  They never change, those who don’t fear God. 20He raises his hands against his friends, he has violated his covenant. 21His mouth was smooth as butter, but his heart was war. His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.  22Cast your burden on Yahweh, and He will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved. 23But You, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction. Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in You.   

Commentary

55:9 Confound their language- Exactly what God did to those who built the tower of Babel (Gen. 11:7). We like David need to see our abusers in Biblical terms, seeing how in essence our abusers are so similar to those in Biblical incidents.
55:13,14 This refers to David’s betrayal by Ahithophel, Bathsheba’s grandfather, and his own one time confidante (2 Sam. 15:31; 1 Chron. 27:33). It is clearly typical of Christ’s betrayal by Judas, whom he also calls his “friend” (Mt. 26:50); as to why Christ in this sense trusted Judas so as to be so hurt by his betrayal, see on 41:9. The historical record simply states Ahithophel’s betrayal of David, but here we see how David didn’t just take it stoically, but was deeply hurt by it and poured out his soul to God in hurt and pain. We need to imagine the feelings of the Biblical characters as they went through the events which are historically recorded.