With a sudden transition, the writer passes from his own suffering, fears, and longings, to imprecations on his enemies, and a description of their wicked proceedings. In the course of his description he singles out one individual for special remark—one who had been his own guide, companion, and friend—but who had turned against him, and joined the company of his adversaries ( Psalms 55:12-14 ). read more
A picture of corrupt city life and private life, and a denunciation of God's judgments upon them. I. CORRUPT CITY LIFE . ( Psalms 55:10 , Psalms 55:11 .) 1 . Corrupt in every part , on the walls and in the interior. Violence and strife reign unchecked universally. 2 . Falsehood and deceit ruled in the market-place. ( Psalms 55:11 .) In the square, or market-place, near the gates, where was the general place of concourse, men cheated and deceived each other in... read more
For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it. The psalmist passes from the general to the particular—from the great mass of his opponents to one special individual. Even Professor Cheyne allows this, and suggests that we have here Jeremiah inveighing against Pashur. But the general sentiment of commentators has always been that Ahithophel is intended. And, if we allow the psalm to be David's, we can scarcely give any other explanation. Ahithophel was known as... read more
But it was thou, a man mine equal ; literally, a man according to my valuing ; i.e. one of my social rank, with whom I was on familiar terms. My guide; or, "my companion." But the LXX . have ἡγέμων . And mine acquaintance. "My confidant" (Kay); "my familiar friend" (Cheyne, and Revised Version). read more
We took sweet counsel together . And walked unto the house of God in company; rather, in the throng (Cheyne, Revised Version); i.e. in the midst of the crowd of worshippers. When David went up to the house of God, who is more likely to have accompanied him than his chief "counsellor"? read more
Let death seize upon them . As this strophe begins ( Psalms 55:9 ), so it ends, with an imprecation. The psalmist calls on God to bring destruction upon the whole mass of his enemies. Of the two readings in the original, the one adopted by our translators seems the best, "Let death come suddenly upon them." Let them go down quick ( i.e. alive ) into hell. There is an allusion to the fate of Korah and his company ( Numbers 16:30-33 ), who "went down quick into the pit;" but... read more
For it was not an enemy that reproached me - The word “reproached” here refers to slander; calumny; abuse. It is not necessarily implied that it was in his presence, but he was apprized of it. When he says that it is not an enemy that did this, the meaning is that it was not one who had been an avowed and open foe. The severest part of the trial did not arise from the fact that it was done by such an one, for that he could have borne. That which overwhelmed him was the fact that the reproach... read more
But it was thou, a man mine equal - Margin, “a man according to my rank.” Septuagint, ἰσόψυχε isopsuche, equal-souled, like-souled, “second self” (Thompson); Vulgate, “unanimus,” of the same mind; Luther, “Geselle,” companion. The Hebrew word used here - ערך ‛êrek - means properly a row or pile, as of the showbread piled one loaf on another, Exodus 40:23; then it would naturally mean one of the same row or pile; of the same rank or condition. The word also means price, estimation, or value,... read more
We took sweet counsel together - Margin, “who sweetened counsel.” Literally, “We sweetened counsel together;” that is, We consulted together; we opened our minds and plans to each other; in other words, We found that happiness in each other which those do who freely and confidentially communicate their plans and wishes - who have that mutual satisfaction which results from the approval of each other’s plans.And walked unto the house of God in company - We went up to worship God together. The... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 55:1-23
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