Psalm 55:12-18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 55:9-15

David here complains of his enemies, whose wicked plots had brought him, though not to his faith's end, yet to his wits? end, and prays against them by the spirit of prophecy. Observe here, I. The character he gives of the enemies he feared. They were of the worst sort of men, and his description of them agrees very well with Absalom and his accomplices. 1. He complains of the city of Jerusalem, which strangely fell in with Absalom and fell off from David, so that he had none there but how own... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 55:16-23

In these verses, I. David perseveres in his resolution to call upon God, being well assured that he should not seek him in vain (Ps. 55:16): ?As for me, let them take what course they please to secure themselves, let violence and strife be their guards, prayer shall be mind; this I have found comfort in, and therefore this will I abide by: I will call upon God, and commit myself to him, and the Lord shall save me;? for whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord, in a right manner, shall be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 55:12

For it was not an enemy that reproached me ,.... An open and avowed one; a Moabite or a Philistine; such an one as Goliath, who cursed him by his gods; but one of his own country, city, court, and family, who pretended to be a friend; his son Absalom, according to Arama: so it was not one of the Scribes and Pharisees, the sworn enemies of Christ, who rejected him as the Messiah, and would not have him to reign over them, that reproached him, but one of his own apostles; then I could... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 55:13

But it was thou ,.... The Targum is, "but thou Ahithophel"; of whom the words are literally to be understood, and so they are in the Talmud F21 T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 106. 2. Pirke Abot, c. 6. s. 3. ; and mystically and typically of Judas; a man mine equal ; "a man", and not a beast, nor a devil; but a man, from whom humanity, kindness, and tenderness might have been expected; though both Ahithophel and Judas acted the part of a devil; and the latter is expressly called one, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 55:14

We took sweet counsel together ,.... Not in religious matters; for in these the testimonies of the Lord were David's counsellors, Psalm 119:24 ; but in civil things: hearty counsel is one branch of friendship, and which greatly sweetens it, Proverbs 27:9 ; as this may be applied to Christ and Judas, it may denote the mutual delight and pleasure they had, the one in communicating, the other in receiving a notional knowledge of the Gospel, and the mysteries of it, which are the counsel of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 55:15

Let death seize upon them ,.... Ahithophel and his accomplices, Judas and the men with him; as a mighty man, as the king of terrors, and shake them to pieces. Or, "let him exact upon them" F1 ישי "exigat debitum", Pagninus; "aget vel agat exactorem", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Cocceius, Gejerus, Amama. ; as a creditor upon the debtor, and demand the debt of punishment for sin: or let him come upon them at an unawares; let them not die a natural, but a violent death. The... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 55:16

As for me, I will call upon God ,.... Not upon a creature, on idols and images, on angels or saints departed; but upon God, in his time of trouble, for salvation and deliverance from enemies; who is able to save. This is to be understood of calling upon God in prayer; as Psalm 55:17 explains it, and the Targum here renders it; though sometimes invocation of the name of God takes in the whole of divine worship; and the Lord shall save me ; which confidence was founded partly upon his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 55:17

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray ,.... These being the stated times of prayer with the Jews, and which continued to later ages, Daniel 6:10 . These times, they say F2 Yalkut Simeoni in loc. , were fixed by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: the morning prayer by Abraham, according to Genesis 22:3 , the prayer of the "minchah" by Isaac, according to Genesis 24:63 ; and the evening prayer by Jacob, according to Genesis 28:11 . The prayer of the evening was at the time of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 55:18

He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me ,.... That is, God had preserved his life, and delivered him safe and sound from many a battle which was fought against him, and might seem at first to go against him; and had given him peace and rest from all his enemies before the present trouble came upon him, 2 Samuel 7:1 ; wherefore he believed, that he who had delivered him in time past would deliver him again; this is the reasoning of faith, 2 Corinthians 1:9 ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 55:12

It was not an enemy - It is likely that in all these three verses Ahithophel is meant, who, it appears, had been at the bottom of the conspiracy from the beginning; and probably was the first mover of the vain mind of Absalom to do what he did. read more

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