Psalms 55:22
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Psalm 55 is a lament psalm attributed to David, likely written during Absalom's rebellion when his trusted counselor Ahithophel betrayed him (2 Samuel 15-17). The psalm's context reveals David fleeing Jerusalem, betrayed by his own son and closest advisor, facing a coalition of enemies seeking his destruction. Verse 22 serves as the psalm's theological climax and practical counsel amid this crisis.
Ancient Near Eastern culture emphasized honor, loyalty, and covenant faithfulness. Betrayal by family or close associates was considered especially heinous, threatening not only physical safety but one's very identity and social standing. David's reference to a companion who "broke his covenant" (v. 20) would have resonated with ancient readers who understood the sacred nature of covenant bonds.
The instruction to cast burdens on Yahweh contrasted sharply with pagan practices where people burdened themselves with rituals, offerings, and appeasement to manipulate deities. Israel's God invites relationship and promises to sustain His people through trials rather than demanding they earn His favor. This verse became a foundational text for Jewish and Christian understanding of prayer, anxiety, and divine providence. In exile, when the covenant community faced national catastrophe, this promise that the righteous would not be permanently moved provided hope that God's purposes would ultimately prevail despite present circumstances.
Questions for Reflection
- What burdens are you currently carrying that God wants you to actively cast upon Him rather than manage yourself?
- How does understanding that your burdens are "what He has given" change your perspective on difficulties?
- What is the difference between casting your burden on the LORD and expecting Him to immediately remove all problems?
- How does this verse address both the sovereignty of God (He allows the burden) and the responsibility of believers (we must cast it)?
- In what ways did Jesus perfectly embody this truth, casting His burdens on the Father while bearing the ultimate burden of our sin?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. This verse offers divine counsel for carrying life's heavy loads. The Hebrew verb hashlekh (הַשְׁלֵךְ, "cast") is an imperative meaning to throw or hurl with force—not tentatively place but actively, decisively transfer. The word yehav (יְהָבְךָ, "thy burden") literally means "what He has given you," suggesting that even our difficulties are allowed by God's sovereign hand and therefore can be entrusted back to Him.
"The LORD shall sustain thee" uses yekhalkelekhah (יְכַלְכְּלֶךָ), meaning to support, nourish, or provide for completely—as a parent cares for a child. This promise assures continuous divine provision for those who cast their cares on Him. The phrase "never suffer the righteous to be moved" employs yitten la'olam mot (יִתֵּן לְעוֹלָם מוֹט), literally "He will not give forever tottering"—God will not allow the righteous to be permanently shaken or overthrown.
This verse establishes the biblical pattern of anxiety management: acknowledge our insufficiency, actively transfer our burdens to God through prayer, and trust His faithful sustaining power. Peter quotes this principle in 1 Peter 5:7, "casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." The promise isn't absence of trials but divine strength to endure them. The "righteous" here refers not to the morally perfect but to those in right covenant relationship with God through faith—those who trust rather than self-rely.