Psalm 55:1

Title. Maschil. This is often prefixed to those Psalms in which David speaks of himself as being chastened by God, inasmuch as the end of chastisement is instruction. Simon de Muis, 1587-1644.

Whole Psalm. A prayer of the Man Christ in his humiliation, despised and rejected of men, when he was made sin for his people, that they might be made the righteousness of God in him, when he was about to suffer their punishment, pay their debt, and discharge their ransom. Utter depravity of the inhabitants of Jerusalem; betrayal of Messiah by one of the twelve whom he had ordained to the apostolical office, and who was Messiah's constant attendant in all his ministerial circuits. Premature and punitive death of the traitor Judas, and of others banded together to crucify the Lord of glory. John Noble Coleman, M.A., in "A Revision of the authorised English Version of the Book of Psalms," 1863.

Verse 1. In the first clause he uses the word ytlkt, that he might indicate that he merely sought justice from God as a Judge; but in the second he implores the favour of God, that if perchance the prayer for justice be less becoming to himself as a sinner, God may not deny his grace. Hermann Venema.

Verse 1. Hide not thyself from my supplication. A figure taken from the conduct of a king who debars an offender from seeing his face ( 2 Samuel 14:24 ), or from an enemy, who conceals himself from the ox, etc.; that is, pretends not to see it, and goes away, leaving it (see Deuteronomy 22:1 Deuteronomy 22:3 Deuteronomy 22:4 Isaiah 58:7 ); or, from a false friend, or an unkind person, who, foreseeing that he may be entreated by a miserable and needy man, will not let himself be seen, but seeks to make his escape. Martin Geier, 1614-1681.

HINTS FOR PASTORS AND LAYPERSONS

Verse 1. (second clause).

WORKS WRITTEN ABOUT THE FIFTY-FIFTH PSALM IN SPURGEON'S DAY

In CHANDLER'S "Life of David," Vol. 2., pp. 305-315, there is an Exposition of this Psalm.