Overwhelmed with Fear
Study note
David begs God to listen to his prayer. He is overwhelmed with fear and wishes he had wings like a dove so he could fly away and rest. He would escape the storm of troubles around him.
1 God, please listen to my prayer. Don't turn away when I beg for help. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.
2 Give me your full attention and answer me. My thoughts are spinning out of control, and I can't find any peace Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;
3 because of the shouts of the enemy and the weight the wicked are pressing down on me. They dump trouble on my head and come at me with burning hatred. Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
4 My heart is being torn apart inside me. The fear of death has me in its grip. My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
5 Panic and shaking have taken hold of me. I am completely overwhelmed with horror. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
6 I said, "Oh, if only I had wings like a dove! I would fly far away and find a place to rest." And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.
7 "I would escape to some distant place and stay out in the wilderness. Selah." Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah.
8 "I would race to find shelter — far from this howling storm." I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.
Betrayed by a Friend
Study note
The city is full of violence and strife. What hurts most is that it was not an enemy who insulted him, but his close friend — someone who walked with him to God's house. Their friendship has been shattered.
9 Lord, mix them up and split them apart. Everywhere I look in the city I see fighting and trouble. Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they circle the city walls. Inside, there is nothing but trouble and misery. Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
11 Destruction fills the city. Cheating and bullying never leave its streets. Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
12 If it were an enemy attacking me, I could handle it. If someone who openly hated me were coming after me, I could hide. For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him:
13 But it is you — someone I treated as an equal, my companion and my close friend. But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.
14 We used to share such sweet friendship together. We walked side by side into God's house with the crowd. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
15 Let death catch my enemies off guard. Let them drop alive into the grave, because evil has made its home right among them. Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
Cast Your Burden on the Lord
Study note
David will call on God, who will save him. His betrayer's words were smooth like butter but his heart was full of war. David gives the famous advice: Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you.
16 But I will cry out to God, and the Lord will save me. As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.
17 Evening, morning, and midday — I pour out my distress, and he listens to my voice. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
18 He has brought me safely through the battle against me. Many people were against me, but he kept me safe. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me.
19 God, who has been seated on his throne since before time began, will hear and will humble them. Selah. These are people who refuse to change and who have zero respect for God. God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.
20 My companion turned on the friends who trusted him. He shattered every promise he made. He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant.
21 His words slide out as smooth as butter, but deep down his heart is at war. His speech is softer than oil, but truly his words are sharpened swords. 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.
22 Hand your heavy load over to the Lord, and he will carry it for you. He will never let the person who does right be knocked off their feet. Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
23 But you, God, will hurl them down into the deepest pit. People who thirst for blood and live by lies will not survive half the life they expected. But I am going to keep trusting in you. But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.