“For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, then I could bear it; nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, then I could hide myself from him. But it is you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend; we who had sweet fellowship together walked in the house of God in the throng…. He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him; he has violated his covenant. His speech was smoother than butter, but his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords” (Psa 55:12–14, 20–21).
Psalm 55 takes up the theme of Psalm 54, a plea for deliverance from enemies, but from a very different angle. The historical details in the superscription of Psalm 54 point to a time when David was pursued by Saul. Yet even in that dark moment, Jonathan strengthened David’s hope in God when the two swore covenant loyalty to one another (see 1 Sam 23:16–18).
In Psalm 55, however, David’s enemy was once a close friend with whom he shared sweet fellowship, but who later turned against him and betrayed their covenant of friendship (see Psa 55:20). Although David does not identify the person, 1 Samuel makes it clear that it could not have been Jonathan. All the same, David found betrayal by a close friend even more painful than hatred from a sworn enemy.
Psalm 55 provides the double comfort of knowing that both King David and Yeshua himself identify with the deep agony of betrayal.
Because the Psalter presents David’s life as a prophetic picture of the coming Messiah, Psalm 55 gives us a window into Yeshua’s broken heart when he was betrayed by the kiss of a beloved disciple, one who had walked with him in close fellowship (Luke 22:47–48). In this sense, Psalm 55 provides the double comfort of knowing that both King David and Yeshua himself identify with the deep agony of betrayal. Read through this Messianic lens, Psalm 55:22 takes on even deeper meaning. We can “cast our burdens” upon the LORD because he himself has carried the pain of betrayal for us.
“Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken” (Psa 55:22). “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” (1 Pet 5:6–7).
