Unpacking Psalm 55:22 (KJV)

Psalm 55:22 (KJV):

“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

This verse is both a command and a promise, and its language is rich with meaning.

1. “Cast thy burden upon the LORD”

• Cast – to throw, to place completely, to roll something off oneself onto another. This implies trusting God fully, not holding back or carrying life’s cares alone (see also 1 Peter 5:7).

• Burden – this can mean anxieties, troubles, griefs, sins, or any heavy load of the heart. David is writing from a place of betrayal and sorrow (context of Psalm 55).

2. “And He shall sustain thee”

• Sustain in the Hebrew text (כָּלַל kul) carries the meaning of support, hold, nourish, provide, strengthen, maintain.

• To “sustain thee” means:

  • God will uphold you when you are weak.

  • He will carry you through trials and supply what is necessary to endure.

  • He will nourish your soul with peace and strength, not allowing you to collapse under your load.

• This is not just survival—it’s divine enabling, keeping the believer steady, strengthened, and provided for.

3. "He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved”

• Suffer means “permit” or “allow.”

• The righteous are those who trust in God, follow His ways, and seek His will.

• To be moved means:

  • To slip, fall, be shaken, or removed from one’s secure place.

  • It does not mean you won’t face trials (David himself was in anguish here), but it means you will not be utterly destroyed, abandoned, or cast off by God.

  • The righteous remain anchored, stable, and secure because God holds them firm (see Psalm 37:23–24).

4. Supporting Scriptures

• Isaiah 46:4 – “And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.”

• Psalm 37:25 – “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”

• 1 Corinthians 10:13 – God does not allow His people to be tempted above what they are able, but provides strength and a way to endure.

5. Practical Meaning for Believers

• God does not promise an absence of burdens—but He promises His sustaining presence in them.

• To cast your burden is to release control and lean on God’s strength.

• To be “not moved” means that even in betrayal, sorrow, financial trouble, sickness, or persecution, you will not lose your standing in Christ. God’s sustaining grace anchors you.

In summary: “Sustain thee” means God will uphold, strengthen, provide for, and carry you through your burdens.“He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved” means God will never allow His faithful people to be shaken from their secure place in Him—they may bend under pressure, but they will not break or be forsaken.