Tehillim 55–57 | David’s Distress

These psalms continue the series of David’s psalms of distress. The three psalms describe different struggles with different kinds of enemies:

In Psalm 55, David confronts the pain of betrayal by someone beloved who has joined his enemies: “But it is not an enemy who taunts me – that I could bear – it is not a foe who looms over me, from then I could hide. It is you, a person like me – my companion, my friend. We shared sweet closeness as we walked among the crowd at the house of God” (55:13–15). Chazal identify this betrayer as Achitofel — David’s close advisor, and according to the Midrash, even his master (Avot 6:3), who turns on him during Avshalom’s rebellion and gives the shocking counsel: "You should go te bed with yor father's concubines, the ones he left to mind the palace,' Achitofel said to Avshalom” (Shmuel II 16:21).

In Psalm 56 David is far from home, a stranger and alone among the Philistines: “To the lead singer, on Yonat Elem Rechokim – a Mikhtam Of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gat” (56:1). And in Psalm 57, David hides in a cave, fleeing from Shaul who is pursuing him: “To the lead singer – a Mihtam of David in the cave, when he was fleeing from Sha'ul” (57:1). Here, the enemy is from within the leadership of Israel itself.

The solution to all these forms of crisis is the same – absolute trust in God.
In Psalm 55: “Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you” (55:23).
In Psalm 56: “In God I trust; I do not fear — what can mere flesh do to me?” (56:5).
In Psalm 57: “He will bring those who crushed me to shame – Selah. God will send His loyalty and truth” (57:4).
This is the character of David as reflected throughout the Book of Tehillim, and it is the trait he seeks to pass on to all who walk in his path , those who study the psalms and those who pray them: In every crisis, facing any enemy and through any distress, the answer is to place one’s trust in God.

Trust in God does not mean sitting idly by and waiting for God to act on our behalf. David was a forceful figure who fought his wars with vigor and did everything in his power to advance his goals. Trust in God is a state of mind. Do I feel that everything rests on my shoulders, that success depends entirely on what I do in this moment, or do I understand that I have a Partner, One who knows everything, who can do everything, and in whose hands the plan truly lies? This outlook can ease great pressure, draw us into deeper closeness with God, and allow us, even in our suffering. to find ourselves singing: “My heart is sound, God; my heart is sound – I will sing and chant praises” (57:8).