Psalms 64

The Matter of this Psalm plainly declares that it was made in a time when David was greatly Distressed and Reproached: Which he was both under Saul, and in the time of Absalo... 's Rebellion.

HEar my voyce, O God, in my prayer, preserve my Life from fear (i. e.) From Danger: The Act or Passion of Fear, being oft put for its Object, Danger, as Psal. 14. 5. 1 Pet. 3. 14. and oft elsewhere. of the enemy.

Hide me from the secret counsel (i. e.) From the ill Effects of their Plots against me. of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity.

Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows Of which Phrase see the notes on Psal. 58. 7., even bitter words slanderous and pernicious Speeches against me..

That they may shoot in secret Lying in Ambush, or hiding themselves in secret places, as Fowlers commonly do. at the perfect Or, upright Man; (i. e.) At me, who in spight of all their Calumnies, dare avow that my Heart is perfect with God, and that I am blameless as to them, having given them no just Provocation.: suddenly At the very first Opportunity. do they shoot at him, and fear not Neither men, because they conceal it from them, as appears from the foregoing and following Words; nor God, whose Judgments they despise..

They encourage themselves Heb. They strengthen, or sortisie themselves, by firm Resolutions, by assured Confidence of Success, by Uniting their Counsels and Forces together, and by mutual Encouragements and Exhortation.... in an evil matter; they commune of laying snares privily: they say, who shall see them Their snares are so secretly laid that David cannot discern, and therefore not avoid them.?

They search out iniquities They study Diligently and Constantly, to find out either Matter, which they may lay to my Charge, or new Ways and means of doing me Mischief., they accomplish a diligent search They have long and accurately searched, till at last they have Ripened and perfected their Thoughts, and found out a very cunning and deep Plot. Or, they say, we have accomplished our accurate search. By long searching we have at last found what we desired., both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart is deep Mine Enemies are not only Cruel and Malicious, but also very Cunning, both to Contrive and Conceal, and to execute their Plots..

But God shall shoot at them Though I can neither search out, or prevent their subtil Devises, yet God can and will certainly do it. with an arrow, suddenly Shortly and unexpectedly. shall they be wounded.

So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves The Mischief of their hard Speeches and Threats, and Crafty Counsels against me, shall be turned against themselves.; all that see them, shall flee away Partly, through Abhorrency of them; and Partly, through Fear of being involved in their Destruction..

And all men (i. e.) A greater number of those who shall see these Events. shall fear, and shall declare the work of God (i. e.) This admirable work of divine Power and Wisdom, and Faithfulness.; for they shall wisely consider of his doing Learning Wisdom by their Folly and Misery, and avoiding those Evil Courses, which brought them to Ruin..

The righteous shall be glad in the LORD Or, for the Lord, (i. e.) Not out of Malice or ill Will to the Persons of their Enemies, but for the Honour of God, which by this means is fully Vindicated, and greatly advanced., and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory To wit, in God, as their sure Rock and all-sufficient Portion..