The Great Burden Bearer

Psalm 55

Run away and leave all your problems behind.  Just leave, not looking back, and never having to think of those worries again.  Escape from those people who are harassing and bothering you.  Have you ever wished that you could do that?  Just soar away like a bird, away from everything that is grievous in your life.  King David wished for that, but it was not possible for him.  It’s not really possible for us, either.  In our psalm this week, we visit David again, with the many trials and tribulations he went through, and we’ll see what is the best way to deal with them.

This psalm is a prayer by King David, who was being unjustly harassed, and who has been betrayed by a close friend.  Here we read of faithless men, but also of a faithful God whom we can trust.  When the burden of the treachery of a close friend gets too heavy, we can turn to God, just as David did.  King David possibly wrote this lament during the days of his son Absalom’s rebellion.  It was at this time that one of David’s closest friends, Ahithophel, betrayed him, and went over to Absalom’s side.  He had been a trusted friend and advisor to David, and then he became traitor, and became an advisor to Absalom during his coup.  (Absalom’s rebellion and Ahithophel’s betrayal can be read in II Samuel, chapters 15 through 17.)

It is very heart-wrenching when a close friend, one you loved and felt you could trust, turns against you.  That can be one of the deepest kinds of hurt possible.  Nothing hurts more than the undeserved wounds from one you thought was a friend.  They should be sticking by you, but instead they betray you.  The Lord Jesus also felt such betrayal.  Verses 12-14 also describe Judas’ betrayal of Jesus.  Judas wasn’t just an ordinary disciple, but he had been chosen to be one of Jesus’ 12 apostles.  Then he turned and betrayed Him (Matthew 26:14-16, 20-25).

This psalm runs the spectrum and whole range of emotions.  King David was very honest with God.  He was angry.  He wanted God to bring vengeance on his enemies (vs. 9, 15, 23).  David had been betrayed by someone he had counted as a friend (vs. 13-14).   Now he wanted to run away and escape from everything (vs. 6-7).  Just be like a bird, and fly away and be at peace somewhere far from these troubles.  Wouldn’t we all like to do that when our troubles are about to swallow us up!  David knew he couldn’t do that, though, and nor can we.  So instead, David chose to run to God, rather than running from his problems.  He came to God in prayer multiple times a day (vs. 17).  David, Daniel, and Peter each followed the pattern of pausing to pray to God at morning, noon, and in the evening, as we see here (Daniel 6:10; Acts 10:9-10).

Throughout David’s life, he learned that he could put all of his burdens on God, and He would carry them for him (vs. 22).  He had learned that God was the Great Burden Bearer.  God’s shoulders are wide enough to carry our burdens. He is sovereign over the universe, so He is certainly capable of working out our problems, and meeting our needs.  God doesn’t forget our needs.  He is able and willing to take our burdens.  When we give them to God, they are His and no longer ours.  We can be in peace.

As God’s children, we can turn our worries over to Him.  He has everything perfectly under control, even when we feel it is not, and it seems like our life is crumbling to pieces.  As David urges in verse 22, turn your worries over to God.  He is never too weary or too tired to pay attention to us. God will support us if we release our problems to Him.  He is in control of every aspect of our lives.  God is a safe resting place, so give your confusion, pain, and expectations to Him.

As the Scriptures say over and over again, we need to lay all of our burdens at Jesus’ feet, believing He is good, loving, and in control.  He can handle any difficulty and pain, even when it seems overwhelming.  Don’t try and handle it ourselves.  Worry ends where faith begins.