Psalm 55:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng.

NIV: with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers.

NASB: We who had sweet fellowship together, Walked in the house of God among the commotion.

CSB: We used to have close fellowship; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.

NLT: What good fellowship we once enjoyed as we walked together to the house of God.

KJV: We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.

NKJV: We took sweet counsel together, And walked to the house of God in the throng.

David reflects on good times spent with a former friend who turned against him (Psalm 55:12–13). This traitor had once offered good advice and companionship to David. They had spent time together among fellow worshippers of the Lord. Yet now, as David faces intense danger (Psalm 55:1–8), he also deals with this ally's betrayal. This seems to refer to Ahithophel, a counselor who sided with David's rebellious son, Absalom (2 Samuel 15:31).

Ahithophel was outwardly devout but, eventually, he became inwardly corrupt. Although the scribes and Pharisees certainly were not Jesus' friends, their religion was like Ahithophel's. On the outside they appeared to be very devout, but their hearts were corrupt. They were hypocrites. Jesus described them as hypocrites and blind guides (Matthew 23:23–24). He pronounced, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness" (Matthew 23:27–28). The apostle John writes about traitors to the cause of Christ. He says, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us" (1 John 2:19).

Psalm 55:9–15 transitions from David asking for rescue into a description of the evil his enemies commit. His foes bring violence, division, fraud, and oppression to the capital city of Jerusalem. Further, a former ally has betrayed David. These descriptions seem to match his experience during the rebellion of Absalom, who was aided by David's prior counselor, Ahithophel (2 Samuel 15:13–14, 31). Rather than seeking revenge himself, David prays for the Lord's judgment to come on these ungodly persecutors.

David begins this song with a prayer for rescue, likely from his rebelling son, Absalom (2 Samuel 15:1–12). David is pained because of a close ally's betrayal; this would refer to Ahithophel, who sided with the rebels (2 Samuel 15:31). This situation creates intense fear. However, David is confident God will rescue him. He is fully assured that those who attack him will be humbled and judged by the Lord.

This is among the psalms recording David's plea for divine help in a time of persecution (Psalms 3; 6; 35). He was betrayed by a close friend, likely Ahithophel (2 Samuel 15:31). This was probably written in response to the rebellion of Absalom (2 Samuel 15:1–12). Despite his trouble, David was confident God would protect him and punish his enemies.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.