Psalm-55
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history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of Thy Law!
Tehillim - Psalm 119:18..
(JPS-1917
version of the Tanakh).
Please
Note: Some
alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’
of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth
from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have shamefully disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben
Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
Psalm 55 is a personal lament (a maschil of David) that moves from raw fear and betrayal to a plea for - Elohim’s intervention and a vow of trust. It is especially useful for exploring friendship betrayed, honest lament, and trust amid danger.
Let us now read Tehillim - Psalm Chapter 55: (JPS-1917 version of
the Tanakh).
1. “For the Leader; with
string-music. Maschil of David.
2. Give ear, O אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim, to my prayer; and hide not Thyself from
my supplication.
3. Attend unto me, and hear me; I am distraught in my
complaint, and will moan;
4. Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the
oppression of the wicked; for they cast mischief upon me, and in anger they
persecute me.
5. My heart doth writhe within me; and the terrors of
death are fallen upon me.
6. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror hath
overwhelmed me.
7. And I said: ‘Oh that I had wings like a dove! then would I fly away, and be at rest.
8. Lo, then would I wander far off, I would lodge in
the wilderness. Selah
9. I would haste me to a shelter from the stormy wind
and tempest’.
10. Destroy, O יְהוָה - LORD, and divide
their tongue; for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
11. Day and night they go about it upon the walls
thereof; iniquity also and mischief are in the midst of it.
12. Wickedness is in the midst thereof; oppression
and guile depart not from her broad place.
13. For it was not an enemy that taunted me, then I
could have borne it;
neither was it mine adversary that did magnify himself against me, then I would
have hid myself from him.
14. But it was thou, a man mine equal, my companion,
and my familiar friend;
15. We took sweet counsel together, in the house of אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim we walked with the throng.
16. May He incite death
against them, let them go down alive into the nether-world; for evil is in
their dwelling, and within them.
17. As for me, I will call upon אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim; and יְהוָה - the LORD shall save me.
18. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I
complain, and moan; and He hath heard my voice.
19. He hath redeemed my soul in peace so that none
came nigh me; for they were many that strove with me.
20. “אֱלֹהִים - Elohim
shall hear, and humble them, even He that is enthroned of old, Selah.
such as have no changes, and fear not אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim.
21. He hath put forth his hands against them that
were at peace with him; he hath profaned his covenant.
22. Smoother than cream were the speeches of his
mouth, but his heart was war;
his words were softer than oil, yet were they keen-edged swords.
23. Cast thy burden upon יְהוָה - the LORD, and He will
sustain thee;
24. But Thou, O אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim, wilt bring them down into the nethermost pit;
men of blood and deceit shall not live out half their days;
but as for me, I will trust in Thee”.
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Let us look once again at the ‘verse by verse’ with explanations:
v. 1-3. Cry for help; overwhelmed by terror.
Paraphrase: “Hear me, אֱלֹהִים -Elohim; I am distraught and moan”.
Explanation: The Psalm opens with urgent prayer and physical symptoms of fear, modeling how honest complaint begins with naming distress.
v. 4-6. Enemies’ oppression; heart in anguish.
Paraphrase: “Enemies stir up strife; my heart writhes and horror overwhelms me”.
Explanation: The Psalmist links external persecution to inner collapse, showing how social violence becomes bodily terror.
v. 7-8. Wish to flee like a dove.
Paraphrase: “Oh for wings to fly away and find rest in the wilderness”.
Explanation: Flight imagery expresses the longing for solitude and safety when community becomes hostile.
v. 9-11. Call for אֱלֹהִים - Elohim to divide the tongues of the violent.
Paraphrase: “Destroy and divide their speech; I see violence in the city”.
Explanation: The psalmist asks אֱלֹהִים to silence the sources of public strife speech and conspiracy, so peace can return.
v.12-14. Betrayal by a trusted companion.
Paraphrase: “It was my companion, my guide, who ate of my bread, who lifted his heel against me”.
Explanation: The shock of treachery by an intimate intensifies the lament; betrayal is more painful than anonymous hostility.
v.15-18. Prayer for אֱלֹהִים to confuse and pursue the treacherous.
Paraphrase: “Let them be confounded and turned back; I will call on אֱלֹהִים”.
Explanation: The Psalm alternates imprecatory petitions with renewed trust, asking אֱלֹהִים to act while committing to prayer.
v.19-21. Enemies’ plots and greed exposed.
Paraphrase: “They reward evil for good and speak peace while planning deceit”.
Explanation: The psalmist names hypocrisy and greed, making a moral case for divine intervention.
v.22-24. Commitment to cast burden on אֱלֹהִים and hope in Him.
Paraphrase: “Cast your burden on יְהוָה - the LORD; He will sustain the righteous”.
Explanation: The close moves from complaint to trust: entrust your cares to אֱלֹהִים, who vindicates the righteous and brings justice.
My Closing message:
Psalm 55 teaches how to lament honestly Name fear, Name betrayal, ask for justice, and then place your burden on אֱלֹהִים - Elohim. You can use this study to help you to practice ‘raw prayer’ and to discuss the spiritual discipline of trusting אֱלֹהִים - Elohim when our human relationships fail.
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD
of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem;
walk in My statutes, and keep Mine
ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign
between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
- the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
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May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts.
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שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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