Psalms Chapter 64 · Matthew Poole

Psalm 64:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. THE ARGUMENT

The matter of this Psalm plainly declares that it was made in a time when David was greatly distressed and reproached; which he was both under Saul, and in the time of Absalom’s rebellion.

The psalmist complaining of his enemies, and describing their crafty and wicked practices, prayeth unto God for guard and deliverance,

Psalm 64:1-6; foretelleth also their utter ruin, to the honour of God, and joy of the righteous,

Psalm 64:7-10.

From fear,

i.e. from danger; the act or passion of

fear

being oft put for its object,

danger, as

Psalm 14:5 1 Peter 3:14, and oft elsewhere.

Psalm 64:2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: From the secret counsel,

i.e. from the ill effects of their plots against me.

Psalm 64:3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: Bend their bows to shoot their arrows;

of which phrase

See Poole " Psalm 58:7 ".

Bitter words; slanderous and pernicious speeches against me.

Psalm 64:4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. In secret;

lying in ambush, or hiding themselves in secret places, as fowlers commonly do.

The perfect;

or,

upright

man; i.e. at me, who in spite of all their calumnies dare avow that my heart is perfect with God, and that I am blameless as to them, having given them no just provocation.

Suddenly;

at the very first opportunity.

Fear not;

neither men, because they conceal it from them, as appears from the foregoing and following words; nor God, whose judgments they despise.

Psalm 64:5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them? They encourage themselves,

Heb.

they strengthen or fortify themselves, by firm resolutions, by assured confidence of success, by uniting their counsels and forces together, and by mutual encouragements and exhortations.

Who shall see them?

their snares are so secretly laid that David cannot discern, and therefore not avoid them.

Psalm 64:6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them , and the heart, is deep. They search out iniquities;

they study diligently and constantly to find out either matter, which they may lay to my charge, or new ways and means of doing me mischief.

They accomplish a diligent search;

they have long and accurately searched, till at last they have ripened and perfected their thoughts, and found out a very cunning and deep plot. Or, they say,

We have accomplished

our accurate search. By long searching we have at last found what we desired.

The heart is deep; mine enemies are not only cruel and malicious, but also very cunning, both to contrive and conceal, and to execute their plots.

Psalm 64:7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. God shall shoot at them;

though I can neither search out or prevent their subtle devices, yet God can and will certainly do it.

Suddenly;

shortly and unexpectedly.

Psalm 64:8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away. The mischief of their hard speeches, and threats, and crafty counsels against me shall be turned against themselves.

Shall flee away;

partly through abhorrency of them, and partly through fear of being involved in their destruction.

Psalm 64:9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing. All men,

i.e. the greater number of those who shall see these events.

The work of God,

i.e. this admirable work of Divine power, and wisdom, and faithfulness.

Wisely consider of his doing;

learning wisdom by their folly and misery, and avoiding those evil courses which brought them to ruin.

Psalm 64:10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory. In the Lord;

or,

for the Lord, i.e. not out of malice or ill will to the persons of their enemies, but for the honour of God, which by this means is fully vindicated and greatly advanced.

Shall glory,

to wit, in God, as their sure Rock and all-sufficient Portion.