Bible Commentaries
Psalms 64

Verses 1-10

Psalms 64

The Goodness of God

Scripture v. 1-10:

This psalm of two Strophes, v.1-5, and v.6-10, relates David’s prayer of faith in God to preserve him from his would-be "throne bandits," concluding that in the end they, and all who rebel against God’s appointed people and ways, including the anti-christ, shall come to defeat, Revelation 21:8.

Verse 1 is a Davidic appeal for God to heed his plaintive, meditating prayer, and preserve him from fear of the enemy who would liquidate him for his throne, Psalms 145:18-19.

Verses 2-4 describe the secret, subversive counsel of the wicked, the insurrection of the workers of iniquity, who whet their tongue (sharp) like a sword, to shoot their arrows of bitter words at the perfect in secret, 1 Kings 8:61.

Suddenly, abruptly, around the corner they shoot, without any seeming sense of fear. Such was David’s frequent plight. He asked that God "hide" or secure him from their destruction, and believed that He would, Psalms 57:4; Psalms 59:7. These night marauders waylaid the unsuspected traveler who Was not alert, Psalms 10:8-9; Psalms 55:19.

Verses 5, 6 add that "they," the enemies of David, Israel, and God encouraged themselves by collusion with one another, in an evil matter, to invent and lay out entrapment snares for the righteous, bragging about their cleverness to destroy the righteous. They asked, "who can see or detect our snares?" They diligently sought out different types of iniquity in which to snare David and his followers. Their mind and heart were insanely given to thoughts and plans to destroy the man and people of God. So it has been, and will ever be, with Satan against the Lord and His people, His church especially, Psalms 10:11-13; Psalms 59:7; Jeremiah 17:9; 1 Peter 5:8.

Verse 7 declares "But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded," even as they plotted the wounding of God’s King, David, v. 4; Psalms 7:11-13.

Verse 8 relates that all the proud plotting, planning, and flattering of the wicked to destroy the righteous shall be caused to fall upon their own lives much as that of Ahithophel and Judas Iscariot who were overtaken in their own sins of treachery, went away and hanged themselves, 2 Samuel 17:23; Psalms 63:10; Acts 1:18. It is added that "all that see them shall flee away," as those about Korah did, upon seeing his judgment, Numbers 16:34; Jeremiah 51:6.

Verse 9 prophesies that "all men (beholding) shall fear, and shall declare the work of God," (as real); "For they shall wisely consider of his doing," Psalms 68:11. By this judgment they shall receive an insight into the ways of God’s judgment, Philippians 2:10-11.

Verse 10 concludes that the righteous shall be glad in the Lord, in His standards and ways, "and shall trust in Him," as a safe haven or refuge, Psalms 46:1. It is added that "all the upright in heart shall glory," or give praise glory, honor, and worship to the Lord, John 4:24; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Psalms 52:6-9; Psalms 58:10.