Psalm 64:1-10 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 64:1-6

David, in these verses, puts in before God a representation of his own danger and of his enemies? character, to enforce his petition that God would protect him and punish them. I. He earnestly begs of God to preserve him (Ps. 64:1, 2): Hear my voice, O God! in my prayer; that is, grant me the thing I pray for, and this is it, Lord, preserve my life from fear of the enemy, that is, fro the enemy that I am in fear of. He makes request for his life, which is, in a particular manner, dear to him,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 64:7-10

We may observe here, I. The judgments of God which should certainly come upon these malicious persecutors of David. Though they encouraged themselves in their wickedness, here is that which, if they would believe and consider it, was enough to discourage them. And it is observable how the punishment answers the sin. 1. They shot at David secretly and suddenly, to wound him; but God shall shoot at them, for the ordains his arrows against the persecutors (Ps. 7:13), against the face of them, Ps.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 64:1

Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer ,.... The prayer of the psalmist was vocal and expressed in a mournful manner, with groans and cries, as the word F26 בשיחי "in querimonia mea", Tigurine version; "in oratione mea gemebunda", Gejerus; so Michaelis. used signifies, and with great ardour and fervency; his condition, by reason of his enemies, being very distressing, and therefore he is very eager and earnest that he might be heard; preserve my life from fear of the enemy ; David... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 64:2

Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked ,.... The word used denotes both the place where wicked men meet together for consultation; see Genesis 49:6 ; and the counsel itself they there take; from the bad effects of which the psalmist desired to be hid and preserved. So Saul and his courtiers secretly took counsel against David, and the Jews against Christ, and that very privily and secretly; see Matthew 26:3 ; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity ; their noise,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 64:3

Who whet their tongue like a sword ,.... Use cutting, wounding, killing, and devouring words; on which they set an edge, and make them keener and keener to hurt and ruin the characters and reputations of good men, and grieve and distress their minds; and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words ; such are the these doctrines of heretical men, which are roots of bitterness, that defile some and trouble others; such are the oaths and curses of profane sinners, whose... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 64:4

That they may shoot in secret at the perfect ,.... Meaning himself, who though not without sin, and far from perfection in himself, in the sight of God and with respect to his righteous law, which was exceeding broad; and therefore he saw an end of all perfection, and desired that God would not enter into judgment with him; but yet, in the case of Saul, he was quite clear and innocent, and without fault. Likewise the Messiah, of whom David was a type, may be meant; who has all the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 64:5

They encourage themselves in an evil matter ,.... Or "strengthen him" F3 יהזקו למו "firmant illi", Muis. ; that is, Saul, by making use of arguments and reasonings to induce him to go on in his wicked persecution of David; or they strengthened and hardened themselves in their wickedness, as Saul's courtiers and the enemies of Christ did, and as all wicked men do, when they observe the sentence against them is not speedily executed, Ecclesiastes 8:11 ; they commune of laying... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 64:6

They search out iniquities ,.... The Targum adds, "to destroy the just.' Either occasions against them, by charging them with sin and hiring false witnesses against them, as did the enemies both of David and Christ; they sought for proper time and opportunity of committing the iniquities they were bent upon, and even searched for new sins, being inventors of evil things, Romans 1:30 ; they accomplish a diligent search ; diligently searched out the perfect man, and found him; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 64:7

But God shall shoot at them with an arrow ,.... With one or other of his four judgments; famine, pestilence, sword, and wild beasts, Ezekiel 14:21 ; which he brings upon wicked men; and may be compared to arrows, as they are, Ezekiel 5:16 ; because they move swiftly. The judgment of wicked men lingereth not, though it may seem to do so; and because they often come suddenly and at an unawares, when men are crying Peace, peace; and because they are sharp and piercing, penetrate deep and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 64:8

So shall they make their own tongue to fall upon themselves ,.... The evil things they have wished for, threatened unto, and imprecated on others, shall come upon themselves; the curses they have cursed others with shall come upon themselves; the pit they have dug for others, they fall into. So Haman, to whom some apply the psalm, was hanged on the gallows he made for Mordecai; and the accusers of Daniel, to whom others apply it, were cast into the same den of lions they procured for him;... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 64:1-6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 64:7-10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 64:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 64:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 64:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 64:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 64:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 64:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 64:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 64:8

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