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Matthew Henry

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:1

Hear my voice - The psalmist feared for his life, and the lives of his fellow-captives; and he sought help of God. He prayed, and he lifted up his voice; and thus showed his earnestness. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:2

Hide me from the secret counsel - They plotted his destruction, and then formed insurrections in order to accomplish it. Workers of iniquity - Those who made sin their labor, their daily employment; it was their occupation and trade. It is supposed that by this title the Babylonians are intended. See Psalm 6:3 ; Psalm 14:4 ; Psalm 36:12 ; Psalm 53:4 ; Psalm 59:2 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 64:3

Who whet their tongue like a sword - They devise the evil they shall speak, and meditate on the most provoking, injurious, and defamatory words; as the soldier whets his sword that he may thereby the better cut down his enemies. Their arrows - bitter words - Their defamatory sayings are here represented as deadly as poisoned arrows; for to such is the allusion here made. read more

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