Psalm 55:22

Commentary on Psalm 55:22

“Cast your burden on the Lord,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”

Context of Psalm 55

Psalm 55 stands among David’s maskil (a contemplative song) and reflects his anguish at betrayal by a close companion (Psalm 55:12–14). In earlier verses, David describes terror, despair and an urgent desire to escape (Psalm 55:4–8). Yet amid raw emotion, he turns from flight to faith, modelling the believer’s call to draw near to God under pressure.

Exegesis of Psalm 55:22

“Cast your burden on the Lord”

The Hebrew term rendered “burden” (yâbēk̂â) can mean “gift,” “lot,” or “care,” suggesting both what God appoints and what weighs upon us. We are to “receive the allotment as coming from him” and then “roll all our care upon the Lord” by faith and prayer.

“And He shall sustain you”

To “sustain” (yāśa‘) conveys God’s power to hold up, nourish and supply strength. God does not always remove our trials immediately but grants grace so we “shall not be utterly cast down”.

“He shall never permit the righteous to be moved”

The “righteous” are those declared righteous by faith in Christ (Romans 5:1). Here is an assurance of divine perseverance: though believers face storms, God secures their standing and “will not suffer them to be utterly overwhelmed”.

Theological Themes

• Divine Sovereignty and Providence: Our “burdens” originate in God’s wise ordering of life. Casting them back to Him acknowledges His control.
• Faith-Rest: Christian preaching highlights sola fide—we trust God’s promise rather than our own strength.
• Perseverance of the Saints: God’s sustaining care guarantees that true believers will endure and cannot be finally shaken.
• Christ-Centred Compassion: As our great High Priest, Jesus sympathises with our weaknesses and invites us to bring every anxiety to Him (1 Peter 5:7).

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Application to Modern Christian Living

Believers today live amid uncertain economies, fractured relationships and pandemic-era anxieties. Psalm 55:22 offers practical pathways:

• Begin each day in intentional prayer, casting personal and communal cares to the Lord.
• Keep a burden journal to identify recurring worries, then pray Philippians 4:6 over each entry.
• Cultivate faith-rest rhythms—Sabbath observance, silence and meditation on Christ’s yoke (Matthew 11:28–30).
• Engage Christian community by sharing burdens and praying for one another, embodying Galatians 6:2.

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Teaching from Psalm 55:22

Believers, certified righteous by faith, are summoned to entrust every burden—past, present and future—to the Lord. In doing so, they enter God’s sustaining care and stand unshaken, even when life’s trials intensify.

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