This psalm is described as a “psalm of David,” and it bears internal evidence that it was composed by him, as it contains first, a prayer for deliverance from enemies Psalms 64:1; and second, a confident expectation of deliverance, Psalms 64:7; a form of structure found in many of the psalms written... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR MY VOICE, O GOD, IN MY PRAYER - The use of the word voice here would seem to imply that this was audible prayer, or that, though alone, he gave utterance to his petitions aloud. We have this same use of the word often in the Psalms, making it probable that even private prayers were uttered in a... [ Continue Reading ]
HIDE ME - Or, more literally, thou wilt hide me. There is both an implied prayer that this might be done, and a confident belief that it would be done. The idea is, Protect me; guard me; make me safe - as one is who is hidden or concealed so that his enemies cannot find him. FROM THE SECRET COUNSEL... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO WHET THEIR TONGUE LIKE A SWORD - Who sharpen their tongue; that is, they utter words that will cut deep, or penetrate the soul. The idea is that of slander or reproach - the same idea which we have in Shakespeare (Cymbeline): “‘Tis slander; Whose edge is sharper than the sword.” This comparis... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THEY MAY SHOOT IN SECRET - From an unobserved quarter; from a place where they are so concealed that it cannot be known where the arrows come from. There was a purpose to ruin him, and at the same time to conceal themselves, or not to let him know from what source the ruin came. It was not an o... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ENCOURAGE THEMSELVES - literally, they strengthen themselves, or make themselves strong. That is, they take counsel; they encourage each other; they urge one another forward; they suggest to each other methods by which what they purpose may be done, and by which difficulties may be overcome. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SEARCH OUT INIQUITIES - They search deep; they examine plans; they rack their invention to accomplish it. The original word - חפשׂ _châphaś_ - is a word which is used to denote the act of exploring - as when one searches for treasure, or for anything that is hidden or lost - implying a deep a... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT GOD SHALL SHOOT AT THEM WITH AN ARROW - That is, Instead of their being able to carry out their purposes of shooting the arrows which they had prepared against others, God will shoot his arrows against them. The tables will be turned. They themselves will experience what they had intended to inf... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEY SHALL MAKE THEIR OWN TONGUE TO FALL UPON THEMSELVES - In Psalms 64:3, their tongue is represented as a sword; and here, keeping up the figure, the tongue, as a sword, is represented as falling on them, or as inflicting the wound on themselves which they had intended to inflict on others. Thi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL MEN SHALL FEAR - That is, a deep impression would be made, not only on the associates and companions of the wicked, but on all that should hear of what was done. People, in view of the just punishment of the wicked, would learn to reverence God, and to stand in awe of One so powerful and so... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL BE GLAD IN THE LORD, AND SHALL TRUST IN HIM - That is, As the result of his gracious intervention, or as the effect of his judgments on the wicked, the righteous will rejoice on account of their own security, and put their trust in One who has thus shown himself to be the friend... [ Continue Reading ]