“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” (Psalms 55:22)
This psalm of David was written during a great trial. Many believe this was during Absalom’s rebellion and Ahithophel's treachery. Ahithophel was David’s advisor. He was very wise, and David listened to him. But Ahithophel betrayed David and went to Absalom as his counselor. “And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O LORD, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.” (2Samuel 15:31)
This psalm is divided into three parts. In the first part David expresses his fear in which he prays, “My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.” (Psalms 55:4-5) In the second part David expresses his anger. David prays: “Let death seize upon them and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.” (Psalm 55:15) Our verse comes from the third part of the psalm in which he expresses his faith in the Lord to hear him and ends with the words, “...but I will trust in Thee.” (Psalm 55:23)
David’s faith was in the Lord’s provision for his every need during this time. He not only needed physical provision, but mental and emotional support. His own son and his highest advisor had betrayed him. Absalom was committing heinous atrocities that showed his contempt for David and were aimed specifically to tear up David psychologically. (2 Samuel 16:21,22) David places his faith in the Lord as he has in previous trials. Even in the times of punishment for his sins, David knew that God would not forsake him and that He would bring him through it. His prayer is aimed at himself and those who would listen to his song. This psalm was given to the chief musician to be played and sung to the people with him.
“Cast thy burden upon the Lord...” they sing. Yes, they are fleeing from Absalom. Yes, they are in danger. Yes, they are being assaulted and pursued. But David’s song instructs them all to hurl their burden over to the Lord. David wants those with him to have faith with him and to be encouraged with him. They are the righteous who are persecuted, run out of their home and running for their lives. They are not the lawless ones. David is very familiar with placing his faith in the Lord. God has never failed him. And with his song he encourages the people with him to experience God’s deliverance with their faith on Him.
Peter wrote “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” (1Peter 5:7) He wrote this as part of his instruction to humble ourselves to the mighty hand of God. When things come against us, we want to take matters into our hands. We start to look for solutions in our own abilities and resources and in others. But Peter tells us to give it to the Lord. And to many this is the last thing they want to hear because it does mean giving up control. It means having faith. It reveals whether we do believe God or not. This does not mean we do nothing. What we should do is trust God, pray our faith like David did and worship Him for past help acknowledging that He doesn’t change and that His love for us hasn’t changed, affirming our belief that He will not fail us this time.
We have a similar entreaty from Jesus. “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) Here Jesus urges us to have faith that He will take our burdens and give us rest meaning ease and refreshment in the original Greek. Isn’t that what we are looking for and needing when we are heavy burdened with something. Jesus tells us that what we need most in our time of burdens, He will provide. And that is a promise. David believed God without a promise and God delivered him and returned his kingdom to him. We have God’s promise. Peter wrote: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” (1Peter 5:6-7)
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