The application I believe is obvious. I rest in the fact that God is in control and His purposes will be accomplished.
Psalms 64:1 ¶ Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
David cries out to God, pleading for Him to hear his prayer and not “let my enemies’ threats overwhelm me.” (NLT) Again, I can relate. It is often the fear of the power of our enemy (evil spiritual forces) that can bring us down despite what we know about our Father in heaven and His promises to supply our every need when we place our trust in Him.
Guzik quoting Maclaren: “He can but pray, but he can pray; and no man is helpless who can look up. However high and closely engirdling may be the walls that men or sorrows build around us, there is always an opening in the dungeon roof, through which heaven is visible and prayers can mount.”
Psalms 64:2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
Psalms 64:3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
Psalms 64:4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
Again, I like the wording of the NLT: “Protect me from the plots of the wicked, from the scheming of those who do evil. Sharp tongues are the swords they wield; bitter words are the arrows they aim. They shoot from ambush at the innocent, attacking suddenly and fearlessly.”
The wording of these verses and those that follow makes me think that this prayer was uttered during the time David was king since the weapons being referenced were sharp tongues and bitter words instead of real swords and spears. These enemies are seeking to slander David’s reputation as they secretly plot against him.
V4 “perfect” – The Hebrew makes reference to being “morally pious, upright”; one who is seeking to obey God.
Spurgeon: “Slander has ever been the master weapon of the good man's enemies, and great is the care of the malicious to use it effectively. As warriors grind their swords, to give them an edge which will cut deep and wound desperately, so do the unscrupulous invent falsehoods which shall be calculated to inflict pain, to stab the reputation, to kill the honour of the righteous.”
Psalms 64:5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
It is true that wicked men joined together find strength in numbers as they make their cowardly evil plans. They are confident that what they do in secret will not be discovered.
Psalms 64:6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.
These evil men pride themselves on their carefully laid plans to accomplish their evil purposes. They are sure of their ability to outsmart those who might choose to stop them.
Psalms 64:7 ¶ But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.
Psalms 64:8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.
What these evil men don’t take into consideration is that God knows all about their evil plans. In His perfect time, He will intervene and turn their evil plans against them, causing them to flee in fear.
Psalms 64:9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.
Psalms 64:10 The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.
All men that witness God’s action against evil men will stand in awe of His power. Those that are committed to living right before God will find their faith strengthened and their hearts filled with praise to the LORD when they witness His hand at work on behalf of those that trust in Him.
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