Psalms 55:16-21 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

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

-Third strophe. His confident hope, resting upon the grounds stated in the previous prayer.

Verse 16,17. As for me ... Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray ( 'aasiychaah (H7878), from siyach (H7878)) - literally, 'meditate;' meditative prayer. The Hebrews, in counting their day, began it with the evening. This and morning and mid-day form the three turning points of the whole day; so that he who wished to consecrate the whole day to God (Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17) would naturally connect these three with stated prayer (Daniel 6:10; Acts 10:9). Evening and morning prayers were at least as old as the evening and morning sacrifice; and this passage implies that the custom which we know prevailed subsequently, of the three-fold time of prayer, was probably in existence in David's time.

And cry aloud - vehement earnestness like that of Jesus in the days of his flesh (Hebrews 5:7), not irreverent Verse 21. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter. So the Chaldaic. The parallelism also favours this - "smoother than butter," answering to "softer than oil." [The reading thus will be meechªmaa'owt (H4260).] But the present reading х machªmaa'ot (H4260)] is literally, 'smooth are the butter-masses (i:e., the sweetnesses) of his mouth.'

Psalms 55:16-21

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

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

18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.

19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

20 He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath brokend his covenant.

21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.