Psalms 64

To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.

This psalm bears no historic indication of date or occasion, but is ascribed to David in the title, which all internal evidence corroborates. From the description given of enemies, and his exultant confidence in the interference of God, we must assign it to one of the two great trials of his life to the time of Saul or of Absalom; and in the absence of all recognition of personal guilt, confession of sin, official impeachment by his enemies, allusion to deliverances in earlier perils, such as occur in the saddened strains of his later trial, we are safe in placing it in the time of Saul. There is a naturalness and simplicity of description a freshness of faith and hope which intimate the earlier struggles and outgoings of his heart, probably that first great crisis when, having escaped from Gath and from Adullam, he heard, at Hareth, in the south of Judah, of the destruction of Nob and the plannings of Saul. See 1 Samuel 22:0.The matter of the psalm is divided into a prayer for help, Psalms 64:1; a description of his enemies, their character and methods, Psalms 64:2-6; his declared confidence of the divine interference for their overthrow, Psalms 64:7-8; and the happy result which shall be realized in the diffusion of honour and praise to God, and encouragement of the joy and faith of the righteous, Psalms 64:9-10