Psalm 55-56

WELCOME PRAYER SONG SILENCE

We’ve skipped chapter 54 and added it to the Psalms we will merely read through at the end of the year. Have you ever been betrayed by a good friend, someone you trusted? This psalm is going to address it but it also is going to bring forward another topic worthy of our investigation and that is the notion of deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. and hell, which the writer wishes upon the people who He once trusted. Let’s work through it.

The Cry for Help

PSALM 55-56
June 8th 2025

55:1 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. 2 Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise; 3 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 sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. 5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. 6 And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. 7 Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. 8 I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

So verses 1-8 describe the situation and we all are aware when things with others unravel and weigh upon us, don’t we? And the Christian response is always, Love, patience, kindness, mercy, forgive, right? Well right here in the Bible the Psalmist reacts differently and says,

9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. 10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. 11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.

Betrayal from a Friend

Then the writer takes us deeper into the situation and says 12 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 was you, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance.

So it seems that the writer had the once kind associate in his minds eye or that he was actually looking at Him here, and writes, It was you . . . “a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. (verse 14) 14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. This is hurtful betrayal being described, the kind that comes from people we once considered a friend.

Again, the Psalmist response? Verse 15 15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

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 broken 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. 22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. 23 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.

Reflection on the Psalmist’s Reaction

To be betrayed from a colleague or trusted friend brings great bitterness to the heart (obviously) and the writer of the Psalms does not hold back on what he wants to happen to the disloyal friend. Notice first that in the Bible that we trust and the Bible that we say should be consulted, directly supports wanting those who harm us to die and to go to hell. I mean one of the most favorite books of the Old Testament for people is the psalms and in places we read about this

Understanding the Bible’s Context

The standard answer is, “well that’s the old testament,” and we allow for the Bible to be understood contextually, right. So, is that the automatic take away? Why do we even have the Old Testament as part of our Bibles if or since it gives what contextually is seen as bad advice? Perhaps the Bible itself serves to walk a person through phases or periods that reflect the human experience and when people read it from Genesis to Revelation, they can discover themselves in it – meaning where they are at the time they first picked it up and read it – and then as they progress forward they are able to also see where God wants to take them in and through the life death and resurrection of His Son? Maybe by the time we get to Revelation our eye open to what God did to the nation that had him killed, and how He sorted them, and then in the last chapter we read about what now awaits those who receive that Son, a kingdom of light, with doors that never close, and a tree in the midst of it near living waters that flow out from the foundation. And maybe by the time we get to the end, having read what Yeshau taught, we understand the context of the Psalms, and the genius of God, and the patient way He worked through humankind and the nation to bring about salvation for the world.

Insights from the Old Testament

And we come back to our verse by verseTGNN’s Bible teaching series—book-by-book, through the lens of fulfillment and spiritual liberty. reading of the Old Testament, and read it with different eyes – instead of through religious, literal its-in-the-Bible eyes. Perhaps, there is even more to see from this Psalm and the writers attitude – something that will teach us things beyond the surface but teach us more about God Himself. And perhaps by allowing it to sit for a while we can discern greater truths about Him and His make-up than what is tied to Old Testament/Apostolic Record thinking. Traditionally, and if you are there its all good to me, but traditionally, we have liked to see and understand God through a structure called the Trinity. And in that structure we have God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, three persons that make up One Being. And with that logic we are able to relate to each of the three and then, less effectively with the One Being. This structure makes sense to most of us because we have all had fathers, and if we are male, we have all been sons, and some might see the Holy Spirit as a daughter of the father, and so in our minds we relate especially since all of these titles/expressions are present in the scripture.

The Genesis Account

But maybe there is a chance to see and understand God through another approach, one we will also understand from the human realm, and perhaps this view is much closer in reality to God than the former theory. Taking a quick glance at the Genesis account we have the simple teaching in the first chapter. Now after God said, let the earth bring forth all the animals, he refined creation and said, Genesis 1:26-27 And God (plural) said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God (plural) created man (singular) in his own image, (singular) in the image of God (singular) created he him (singular); male and female created he them. (plural) And having made singular man in God’s singular image, the result was a male AND a female (plural). If God was one as unitarians claim meaning composed of One only and alone, he would not have created man in His image by creating Male and Female. He would have created just a male or a hermaphrodite. But His image, whom He made singular man to reflect, amounted to two expressions of Man – male and female – and because we are material flesh, we are distinguished by material parts that reflect males and females. I do not suppose that a Spirit, which is how God is described, possesses material parts but because we ARE FRANKLY and STRAIGHTLY made in His image, I maintain that the best way to understand the God we worship is that He is perfect masculine and perfect feminine – without default, fail, or

Understanding the Masculine and Feminine Expressions of God

Corruption.

These essences, traits, and expressions are perfectly integrated, without any division or separation and this is how I believe we can better understand the One God – He is One perfect form of masculine and feminine. When God formed Man he first breathed into Him the breath of LIVES – plural, suggesting that God Himself imparted what He is, “lives of perfect masculine and lives of perfect feminine in His unity,” into Adam. When he took part of Adam out and made a woman, we might believe that the same unified lives that were in Adam were in her, and the two, through their flesh could experience material unity just as the perfect masculine and perfect feminine co-existed in Him. From this very different point of view we have a far greater basis to understand Him, them, and ourselves. From this view we have a superior view of God’s intentions for males and females made in His image, His natural order for human beings, right relationships, and the power that exists in male and female couples today.

Of course, there was a Fall, and in and through that man and women, husband and wife, mother and father, male and female, and even masculine and feminine were divided, and sorrow instead of pure peaceful unity ruptured that perfect mix. I am personally not interested in addressing all the so called deviations that resulted from that Fall – they are what they are, but the solution to them are also biblical, even though the descriptions of them remain in place in the text. What I am more interested in are the masculine and feminine expressions of God in the Bible, how males and females today support this reality, and what version or combination of masculine/feminine traits will save the world.

Masculine Expressions in the Old Testament

Looking at our text today, we get a living example of the Spirit of God in the Old Testament that reigned – much more masculine than feminine right? The Psalmist was betrayed by his friend and his response to that was kill the dude and send him to hell. Right? Now, whether this reaction is found in men or women is not the point – remember, the breath of lives was breathed into Adam and then given to Ava so, all people of either gender possess a mixture of masculinity and femininity. Some have more of one, some have other – we are made in God’s image – but in God, and how he first manifested Himself in the fallen world (not the garden because I maintain the garden was both expressions in operation).

The Power and Justice of God

So, what do we see as we course through the Old Testament? First we see a God who is powerful, shakes the earth, causes fire wherever His foot lands and has a voice that boomed and terrified everyone. To me, He was showing this side of Him for a number of really good reasons, including He was powerful. He was just. He is Holy. He, like a king, could would and did take life. He made Laws – Rules – Commands – very masculine, Law giving. He was unmerciful to evil doers. He was willing to do the hard stuff with the aim to set things right and clear relative to what perfect masculinity looks like. He was also always first – it was His way and Man had to comport themselves accordingly. Yes, He was also certainly feminine as He evidenced these traits in his mercy, still small voice, longsuffering, but the picture He gives to the world through the Nation is straight up masculine and when a masculine being responds to traitorous behavior, evil that will hurt others in the camp or kingdom, or making really really hard decisions all things considered and without explanation, that was God and that was masculine. Don’t like it? Does it offend you when we read about some of the things He did as a means to bring forth a narrative that would save the world? Then I suggest you rethink what males who go to war rely upon, what males who serve in the police force, who govern corporations or who defend their wives and children operate from so the well-being of others. That is the expression of God in the Old Testament – one who showed us all what our world would have too look like if we were going to operate, communicate and live under masculinity. It is not surprising that the most male oriented religions are male dominated, look down on female leadership or input and stand resolutely on the Old Testament. The presence and horrors of a

Gender Dynamics in Religion

Male dominated religion, community or rigid patriarchy is reflected in shows like, A Handmaid’s Tale, in hardcore Calvinism, Islam, Judaism and in a community a couple hundred miles south of here near Saint George. What is entirely forgotten by shows and groups like these is the Old Testament must be read as part of what God has done and NOT where God landed or stopped in His solution for the world. This is the error in biblical literalism and reading is without finishing it.

Males and females were certainly made in His image from the start, but our parents, who represented the entire human population, fell, and so God appears to reveal Himself in a processional form as a means to teach us how His solution, in the end, is best and not “the overtly masculine approach that God showed among men because neither His threats, commands, or Laws worked. And standing on this we can see that they don’t work for peace, love and understanding in the world, they don’t work in corporations, Hollywood and they don’t work in families because the end result is they frankly cause and create fear, rebellion, shame, division and pain. We have learned this over the course of human history and if we haven’t we should.

Masculinity and Femininity in Spiritual Context

But, femininity, rising in its flesh, is not the solution either – a mistake modern feminists typically make. Where God’s femininity certainly showed up, proving that He wanted us to see what He was and would be like in our world as a human, the traits of masculinity and femininity were perfectly present. And the thing is, the ways of Christ, the Spirit of Christ are not only completely adaptable by either gender they are God’s solution to this world. What am I saying, that hyper masculinity from either gender needs to tone it down and include seasoned Christian feminine traits in the balance for our world to improve. This is NOT to suggest that males cease being their traits that protect, make right, fix things, and go to war – not at all. But it is to suggest that if a man or a woman is overly masculine the traits of Christ in His tender gentle ways increase.

In my estimation, the make-up of God – His very spiritual identity of the Old Testament, in and through the incarnation of His Son, adapted to His Word made flesh, and taking Holy Spirit 1.0 and conformed itself to Holy Spirit 2.0, called the Spirit of Christ, who in a very masculine way penetrated the hearts all genders after His victory over all things, and we all now have the Spirit calling for us to conform ourselves to Him accordingly. This operating system is recognized by both genders when it is working in other irrespective of their human genders, and the unification of men and women, especially husbands and wife have a shared basis, an absolutely identifiable mindset by which they can work from and use to function as one.

The Solution to Modern Relationships

The very solution to marriage in our day and age – and going back to the victory – validates the make-up of God far far better than father, son and holy Spirit but thrives in the perfect unity of perfect masculine and perfect feminine, and this is the basis for all human relations whether it be male to male, male to female, female to female or husband to wife or wife to husband. Males and masculinity love law, rules, order and this is not a bad thing. But remember what John wrote in his Gospel when he said

John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Gone is the Handmaidens, the polygamists, the five point Calvinists, the women should be seen and not heard.

When the Galatians thought that they should continue in the Law after they came to Christ, Paul opened up chapter 3 of the same book and called them foolish. After hitting on some other material he wrote, beginning at verse 19,

3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law?

We might add, wherefore served the masculine God of the Old Testament? And he answered His own question saying,

It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law

Faith and the Law

Given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace., that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

The solution to the world was right there in the risen person of God incarnate, a version of Man that ought to be assumable by both genders equally but without losing the tendencies God has given us in whatever way they come. Some males are very feminine and should be allowed to be; some females are also very masculine and should be allowed to be – the focus isn’t on traits of our flesh, the solution is in the traits of our spirit, which come from the perfect God of lights in perfect spiritual form, filling in gaps like holy sealant and giving both genders more understanding, patience and love for each other along the way. This is not the way of the world folks. It’s the way of our God because it is whole I believe He is best understood.

Psalm 56: A Reflection

Let’s consider Psalm 56 now and wrap up today with that coverage.

Psalm 56:1 <<To the chief Musician upon Jonathelemrechokim, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath.>>

Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me. Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High. What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil. They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul. Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.

Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me. In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word. In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

Central Messages in Psalm 56

While lots of good stuff here, there are three central messages – all repeated in a poetic way. The first speaks of fear or being afraid, and verses 3 and 11 mention these terms. And verse 4 and 10 mention his trust in His word specifically and finally verse 12, 10 and 4 all speak of praising Him, praising His word, praising His vows.

I tend to see a correlation between OUR FEARS of anything, OUR TRUST in His Word, and OUR PRAISE of Him in the aftermath. Over the course of my own life I have learned about Him and His written and living Word. The repeated inoculation of them have a direct application to fears in this life.

As I’ve met with people I discover that most of us live in fear – of something – the unknown, dogs, speaking in public, spiders, falling, death – you name it, right. Most of us are downright terrified about the potential loss of life of those we love, things we own, security, safety. So we cling to whatever we can to give us some sense of security. And as we get older, and watch our various lifesavers crumble around us – financial

The Power of Trust in Overcoming Fear

Security, health and viability, being able to hear, see and walk, our natural fears have a tendency to overwhelm us. Fear usually manifests in our efforts to control. Sometimes even to force, push, and fight to retain. For this writer, the fear was of his enemies and what they could do to him. We all get that. But what is often overlooked is God gives us a recourse we can take in the face of fear – and here it is called, his word. Interestingly, the Septuagint translates this Hebrew word dabar, which means words or writings to Logos, the term John assigns to Christ, supporting the notion that the words we are reading about in the Old Testament were made flesh and dwelled among us.

The Living Word

I am inspired and informed by the words written with ink as they certainly give one reason to not fear, but the reality is KNOWING Christ, the Words made flesh and trusting in Him alone is worth ten thousand shields and swords in the face of my every fear. That is what this Psalmist is saying in my estimation – and haven’t we all witnessed this – how the living Word within those who possess and recognized it are fearless in the face of life’s enemies. I mean didn’t He say to those courageous souls of His day that were being put to death, were starving, who lost their jobs and community,

Matthew 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Scriptural Assurance

Didn’t Paul write,

Romans 8:35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulationA real historical event fulfilled in 70 A.D.—not a future apocalyptic crisis. More, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

What could anyone possibly fear who has the victorious Spirit of Christ from within, that living Word made flesh who overcame all things and said to His apostles before being taken to suffer –

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

And remember what He told his apostles before death, saying

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

The best way to confront fear is to have something you trust as being capable of handling each situation and letting Him, or it. Knowing Him, the Word made flesh, fortifies the human soul with perspectives that far outlast the temporal and immediate, and serve to bring peace in the face of unrest. And just like a soldier who showers praise of a hand grenade that delivers him from the hands of his enemy, our spiritual understanding that comes with the power of His Spirit leads us to do as the Psalmist and in the face of fears we look to Him, the Word, and in faith, overcome. It is this sort of thing that opens the human mouth like that of a songbird to praise Him and His name and what caused this Psalmist to pen this tune.

Questions/Comments

Parker