Psalms 55:6-7
And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The Psalmist doesn't just wish for speed; he desires a place of permanent dwelling and safety, a contrast to the instability his enemies have forced upon him. This isn't a fleeting wish to escape, but a deep longing for true, settled peace that the world cannot provide.
David is in deep distress, feeling betrayed and overwhelmed by treacherous enemies plotting against him. He cries out to God in anguish, expressing a profound desire to escape his immediate danger and find peace, wishing for the ability to instantly flee to a safe, distant place.
Ever felt so overwhelmed you just wanted to disappear? David's cry for wings isn't just about speed, but about a deep-seated need for safety and peace.
David's choice of the dove is loaded with meaning. Doves are often seen as symbols of innocence and gentleness, making David's situation all the more poignant. He’s not comparing himself to a predator, but to a creature known for its vulnerability.
More than just gentle, the dove also signifies swiftness and a desire for a safe haven. When threatened, a dove doesn't fight back; it flees. David, feeling trapped and pursued, longs for that same instinctual, rapid escape. He yearns for a place where the constant threat and turmoil would cease, allowing him to 'dwell' in peace, free from the 'windy storm and tempest' of his enemies.
David wishes to fly away and 'be at rest.' But is true rest found simply by changing locations, or is it something deeper?
David’s desire for rest isn't just about getting away from his enemies; it's a profound longing for security and peace. He imagines a place where the 'windy storm and tempest' of his life wouldn't reach him. This speaks to a universal human desire to escape suffering and find a permanent, unshakeable place of peace.
While David initially looks for escape through physical flight, the commentary hints at a deeper 'rest' that isn't found on earth. For believers, this ultimate rest is not just a change of scenery but a spiritual reality found in God. It’s the peace that surpasses understanding, a secure dwelling not in a wilderness hideaway, but in the presence of God, a rest that troubles can never disturb and death cannot steal.
Understand the original words
yônâ · Hebrew Noun
A metaphor for escaping or retreating from intense personal distress or persecution to find peace and tranquility. In Scripture, birds are sometimes symbols of deliverance, and the dove specifically is associated with purity and mourning.
nûaḥ · Hebrew Verb
A state of tranquility, cessation from labor, or relief from trouble. Theologically, it points to the ultimate peace found in God’s presence or the Sabbath rest provided by Him.
midbār · Hebrew Noun
An uncultivated, desolate region. Biblically, it is often a place of testing, refuge, and intimate encounter with God, standing in contrast to the corruption of the city.
selâ · Hebrew Noun
This psalm reflects a moment of intense personal crisis, likely during Absalom's rebellion, where David feels overwhelmed by betrayal and seeks escape from human treachery and danger.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
David's Reign as King
David, the established king of Israel, faces internal strife and external threats, creating a backdrop of constant danger and political instability.
c. 992 BC
Absalom's Rebellion
David's own son, Absalom, conspires against him, forcing David to flee Jerusalem. This event deeply impacts David, leading to feelings of betrayal and profound distress.
c. 992 BC
David Flees Jerusalem
During Absalom's rebellion, David and his loyal followers abandon the capital, seeking refuge and safety away from the immediate threat.
This passage also uses the imagery of the dove seeking refuge in rocky places, drawing a parallel to the desire for a safe haven away from danger and turmoil.
Matthew 10:16Jesus tells his disciples to be 'wise as serpents and innocent as doves,' highlighting the dove's symbolism of harmlessness and vulnerability in a dangerous world.
2 Corinthians 5:1-2This passage speaks of believers longing to be 'at home with the Lord' and having a 'heavenly dwelling,' echoing the psalmist's desire for a place of ultimate rest beyond earthly troubles.
Galatians 5:22The Holy Spirit's fruit includes 'peace,' which is the ultimate state of rest and security that the psalmist yearns for, far from the chaos he experiences.
gillPsalms 55:6: "And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest."
And I said, oh that I had wings like a dove,.... The psalmist pitches upon this creature, partly to suggest that his enemies pursuing him were like the ravenous hawk, and he like the harmless, innocent, and trembling dove; and partly because of its swiftness in flying. Aben Ezra thinks the dove is mentioned, because it is sociable with men, and who send letters by them for quick dispatch, of w…
poolePsalms 55:6: "And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest."
No text from Poole on this verse.
The Psalmist doesn't just wish for speed; he desires a place of permanent dwelling and safety, a contrast to the instability his enemies have forced upon him. This isn't a fleeting wish to escape, but a deep longing for true, settled peace that the world cannot provide.
David is in deep distress, feeling betrayed and overwhelmed by treacherous enemies plotting against him. He cries out to God in anguish, expressing a profound desire to escape his immediate danger and find peace, wishing for the ability to instantly flee to a safe, distant place.
David is in deep distress, feeling betrayed and overwhelmed by treacherous enemies plotting against him. He cries out to God in anguish, expressing a profound desire to escape his immediate danger and find peace, wishing for the ability to instantly flee to a safe, distant place.
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A musical or liturgical instruction, likely meaning a pause to reflect, contemplate, or intensify the previous thought in prayer.
"And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah" — The Psalmist doesn't just wish for speed; he desires a place of permanent dwelling and safety, a contrast to the instability his enemies have forced upon him. This isn't a fleeting wish to escape, bu…
