The 55th Psalm is one of my personal favourites. This is not because it is a particularly easy Psalm to read. When one meditates upon the words, the intensity of the suffering is most palpable. I am drawn to the 55th Psalm, however, because of the sheer earthiness of the language.  There is no-one who cannot comprehend to some degree the humanity of David’s feelings as he moves from fear through fury to faith. The ultimate blessing of this inspired poem is, that while it begins with a raging torrent of emotion it concludes with a great calm as the troubled mind is put at ease.

This is one of the betrayal Psalms, as some have called them. They form a little cluster in this section of the Psalter. 

Psalm 52 details Doeg the Edomite at Nob, as he informed Saul that the High Priest, Abimelech, had assisted David; therefore causing the massacre of the priests by the Edmoites at Saul’s behest.

Psalm 54 is the record of David’s prayer as the men of Keilah, acting as Saul’s intelligence agents constantly were on the track of his whereabouts.

In the 55th Psalm David introduces a new concept, one that perhaps reveals that this was the greatest betrayal of all. He expresses a desire to escape, to give up and give in and get away from the trouble in which he found himself to be in. Therefore this study is called The Wings of a Dove.

David’s Problem – Psalm 55:1-8

The opening words would suggest that David was fearful of God forsaking him, not responding to his prayers:

Give ear to my prayer, O God;
and hide not thyself from my supplication.

Psalm 55:1

Fear in the heart of the Christian is almost always, perhaps universally, the result of a lack of faith, a failure to trust God. While David had a certain foe, by far the greatest antagonist was the enemy within.

Is this not so in our own lives? We can blame all manner of people and circumstances for the trouble in which we find ourselves but the greatest enemy is that which struggles within our own corrupt natures. Whatever our battle and struggle is today – the one over self is the one that must be won. David would have peace at the end of this Psalm not because his problems had gone away but because he learned to trust – the enemy within had been vanquished.

David’s problem generated a deep pain within his heart. His spirits were low and his heart was sore. The spirit of death itself had taken hold upon his mind. There is a darkness in his soul, a grief that grips him with vicelike tentacles.

It is for this reason he prays for wings like a dove just to escape “the windy storm and tempest”. Lack of faith gives us a spirit of defeatism where we will face the enemy without but we would rather surrender and retreat. Whatever our place and our calling is – we must stand firm, show resolve, trust God and carry on.

The truth is, however, sometimes, we have the wings like a dove mentality. We want to get away, we desire to take flight and if we could we would!

David’s Pain – Psalm 55:9-15

What was it which plunged David into such grief and agony? This set of verses reveal a friend who had turned traitor. This was one whom David considered a true friend; a counsellor and a confident. This was a man who made promises to David, but the covenant was broken. He had smooth pleasant words for David but behind the smiling face there were daggers ready to stab. He bad gone to God’s house with this individual where they enjoyed worship together. But now the harmony and fellowship was shattered by the bitterness of dark and deceitful treachery.

The circumstances of David’s suffering are not easy to identify. There are three potential candidates.

One is Saul, a man whom David served and was willing to lay down his life for. Yet Saul attempted to kill David as a result of a jealous and bitter spirit.

Another is Absalom, the son whom David brought back from exile who subsequently seized the crown from his father, causing him to flee for his life.

The third candidate is Ahithophel. He was David’s trusted advisor who chose to remain with Absalom rather than support his King. He is the most likely candidate as the references to the city in the Psalm 55 would indicate that much of the circumstances occurred in Jerusalem.

Understandably this betrayal generated another very human reaction within the heart of David – fury and revenge. 

Let death seize upon them,
and let them go down quick into hell:
for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

Psalm 55:15

While such emotions are normal and are grounded to some extent upon justice they will not generate peace. He needed another reaction; something more noble and worthy if he was rise above the windy storm and tempest that he referred to earlier.

David’s Peace – Psalm 55:16-23

David finally came to peace not by psychologically rising above the feelings of fear and fury. He simply learned to pray.

Personal Praying

As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.

Psalms 55:16

Persistent Praying

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

Psalms 55:17

A mourning supplicant shall neither lose his prayers nor his tears…

David Dickson, The Psalms

This spirit of prayer brought David to a place where his soul was at peace, even though the battle was arrayed against him. His circumstances had not changed but his inner turmoil was calmed. Prayer alone will transform our thought process in the day of trial, giving us the inner confidence that stems from grace alone.

This is that peace of which the Apostle wrote:

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Furthermore the thoughts of revenge were replaced with the satisfying knowledge that God would in His time deal with his foes:

But 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.

Psalms 55:23

This again is reminiscent of Paul:

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Romans 12:19

Ultimately David learned to cast his burden upon the Lord. Therein he found sustaining power.

…if thou throwest thy burden upon God He will not only carry that, but He will also carry thee…God delights not to see tears in thine eyes, or paleness in thy countenance; thy groans and sighs make no music in his ears. He had rather that thou wouldest free thyself of thy burden by casting it upon Him, that He might rejoice in thy joy and comfort. 

Samuel Blackerby, 1874 – from CH Spurgeon, A Treasury of David.

David Dickson meditated upon the words “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved”:

Though the godly be troubled and tossed, yet because they continue to seek God and to walk in the way of righteousness, they shall never be driven from their anchor-hold, they shall not be loosed at the root; their building shall be found still in its own place, upon the rock, he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

David Dickson, The Psalms

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS