Psalm 55

Psalm 55
What a picture we have in this psalm of the sufferings of the remnant of Israel in the time of their great trouble. They will be learning what many of the children of God have learned by experience, that the way to blessing is often through trial.
In verse 3 are apparently two distinct parties,—"the enemy," and "the wicked." Isaiah 28:1414Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. (Isaiah 28:14) and 18, and Zechariah 14:2,2For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. (Zechariah 14:2) tell of the coming of enemies to Jerusalem after the wickedness of the nation has come to its height. The speaker in the psalm is evidently looking back to the time when he was in Jerusalem, and had to leave it (verses 6-8). He prays for the judgment of the godless within the city (verse 9), and in vivid description tells what they were doing (verses 10-11). And this is man, freed at last from the restraining power of the Holy Spirit (2 Thess. 2:77For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:7)) in the believers of the present dispensation.
What is harder to bear than treachery? (verses 12-14), but this the Lord had to endure as none other (Matthew 26:21-23, 47-5021And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? 23And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. (Matthew 26:21‑23)
47And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. 48Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. 49And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. 50And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. (Matthew 26:47‑50); Mark 14:18-2018And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. 19And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I? 20And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. (Mark 14:18‑20); Luke 22:47, 4847And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. 48But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? (Luke 22:47‑48); John 13:18, 21-3018I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. (John 13:18)
21When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. 23Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. 25He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? 26Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. 28Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. 29For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night. (John 13:21‑30)). Faith's confidence in God's deliverance is expressed in verses 16-17. The godly do not know when deliverance will come; they present their petitions at "evening, and morning and at noon," assured that He will hear.
Tried saints today may well follow the example here set before them, and in prayer and supplication let their requests be made known unto God. He is not indifferent to the call of His own. (See James 1:2-42My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (James 1:2‑4); and verse 22 of our psalm).
In "Cast they burden" upon the Lord, (verse 22), the "burden" is the portion assigned to you. Often in the varying circumstances of life, what seems a very heavy burden has to be borne: something too heavy, it may seem to be, for the believer's strength,—affliction, sorrow, the loss of a loved one—there are many "burdens" that our God assigns to His children, and many they bring upon themselves. Sweet then is the gracious invitation:
"Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee."
This Psalm exhibits in a marked way the different character given the believing sons of Israel in the coming day, from the desires proper to the Christian. Never is the latter taught to call for judgment upon his enemies, for this is the day of grace. By and by the day of judgment having come, a call for vengeance will be according to God's mind.