Guest Post by Pastor Pat Quinn 

It is a glorious truth that Scripture speaks relevantly, personally, and powerfully to the whole range of modern struggles and issues (2 Peter 1:3-4). This includes all forms of personal betrayal and abuse: physical, emotional, and sexual. As people created in the image of the God who speaks (Genesis 1; John 1:1-3), we have been created to have a voice. Diane Langberg says:

“To be in the image of God is to have a voice and speak that voice out into the world. Anything that distorts the voice of God results in the destruction of person….Oppression, cruelty, violence, and …sexual abuse…silence the voice of the one created in the image of the God who speaks.”[i]

One beautiful gift God has given victims of abuse is the book of Psalms. The psalms give us God-inspired words to give voice to our anguish and to hope in God. This is a significant part of healing and restoration.

In looking at Psalm 55 we’re going to tag team with David and the Son of David (whose inner psychology is supremely expressed in the psalms) to see how God’s Word speaks to and speaks for those abused. While both men and women, boys and girls, are victims of abuse, we will primarily address women victims in this blog.

Psalm 55 gives victims of abuse God-given words to:

Approach God Confidently and Cry Out Honestly: Psalm 55:1-3

David asks God to “Give ear to my prayer,” and “Hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!”  

This is tragically the opposite of what many victims of abuse experience. People don’t pay attention or listen to their cries for help and they feel they must hide their experience. Many survivors therefore experience great anxiety and terror and continually wrestle with recurring thoughts, memories, and feelings. David models bringing this whole complex of pain to God, confident that he hears and cares.

Courageously Face and Give Voice to Their Agony, Weakness, and Desperation: Psalm 55:4-8

David’s words capture something of the overwhelming effects of abuse: “anguish,” “terrors,” “fear and trembling,” “horror.” This is consistent with the struggle with anxiety, depression, PTSD, pervasive guilt and shame, hypervigilance and hypersensitivity, panic attacks, relational problems, and helplessness many women survivors deal with.

Notice also David’s strong desire to escape and find a hiding place—“Oh that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” Survivors are often tempted to withdraw socially and relationally or to seek other false refuges in order to protect themselves. God understands this desire for a safe place and offers himself as refuge.

Realistically Assess Evil and Openly Express the Desire for Justice: Psalm 55:9-11, 15, 23

David’s strong words remove euphemistic language about abuse. He describes “violence and strife,” “iniquity and trouble,” “oppression and fraud,” and “blood and treachery.” This reveals the horror of oppression and abuse.

Since many victims of abuse feel shamefully but unjustly responsible for what happened, it is often very difficult for them to call out the evil for what it is and allow themselves to feel a desire for just retribution. David calls for God to “destroy” and “divide their tongues” and “cast them down into the pit.” David’s strong language reveals a good instinct—to see evil punished by God.

Counselors will need to help victims filter the desire for retribution through the gospel, but also to remind them that every sin will be paid for, either on the cross or in hell: judgment for the unrepentant abuser; mercy for the repentant abuser who turns to Christ in faith (James 2:13).

Engage with the Reality and Pain of Betrayal: Psalm 55:12-14, 20-21

The pain of abuse (especially sexual) is often compounded by the fact that it is usually committed by someone known to the victim: a relative, neighbor, “friend,” or someone in a position of authority, like a teacher or clergyman. David expresses this betrayal poignantly when he writes, “He stretched out his hand…he violated his covenant. His speech was as smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.”

David knew that agony of betrayal, as did his greater Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 14:18; Luke 22:48). David gives his heartbroken words to express the pain of betrayal and Jesus gives his sympathetic comfort to the betrayed (Hebrews 4:15-16).

Partner with God in Prayer for Restoration: Psalm 55:16-19

Verse 16 turns a spiritual corner in David’s heart with a small but significant word: “but.”All his honest engaging, lamenting, and pleading have connected David with God in such a way that he is able to say, “But I call to God, and the LORD will save me.”

Spirit-empowered faith has touched the living God and a confident hope has emerged. What an encouragement to survivors of abuse:  honest persistent prayer to God in the agonizing aftermath of abuse can give birth to a holy refusal to be defined and paralyzed by the abuse as well as a humble confidence that God will redeem and restore.

Turn Outward and Minister to Others: Psalm 55:22

In verse 22 David turns from his own concerns to address all who have suffered under the hands of others: “Cast your burden on the LORD and he will sustain you.” Turning outward to pray for or speak to other sufferers is a beautiful sign of God’s redemption and healing.

God never wastes any suffering but uses it for his glory and the good of others! Paul elaborates on this in 2 Corinthians:

• “If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation” (2 Corinthians 1:6).
• “So death is at work in us, but life in you” (2 Corinthians 4:12).
• “My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9a).
• “For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God: (2 Corinthians 13:4b).

Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse are tragically common realities for many women. Only God offers a realistic yet radiant hope for survivors of abuse. No quick fixes but something far better: the redemption and restoration that comes through the One who bore all abuse, shame, helplessness, and hopelessness.

“Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses)

and carried our sorrows and pains”

(Isaiah 53:4a, AMP).

[i] Diane Mandt Langberg, Counseling Survivors of Sexual Abuse (Maitland: Xulon Press, 2003), p. 47.

Pat Quin: Pat is the Director of Counseling Ministries at University Reformed Church, where he applies his love for the gospel to counseling, training counselors, serving as an elder, consulting, preaching, and occasional worship leading. He has degrees from Michigan State University (BA) and Calvin College (MAT) and received counseling training from the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation. Pat has been a member of URC since 1974 and has been married to Judie since 1976. Pat and Judie have two grown children and six grandchildren. He is a council member of the Biblical Counseling Coalition and part of the blogging team. In addition to his responsibilities at URC, Pat leads the Mid-Michigan Biblical Counselors group.