Psalms 64:10

Verse Psalms 64:10. The righteous shall be glad] They shall see that God does not abandon his followers to the malice of bad men. The rod of the wicked may come into the heritage of the just; but there it shall not rest. Calmet thinks that this is a prediction of the destruction of the Chaldeans, in consequence of which the Jewish people became highly respected by all the surrounding nations. But it may be applied more generally to the enmity of the wicked against the righteous, and how God counterworks their devices, and vindicates and supports his own followers.

ANALYSIS OF THE SIXTY-FOURTH PSALM

I. The psalmist, in danger, commends his cause to God, Psalms 64:1.

II. Complains of his enemies, who are described by their inward devices, and outward conduct, Psalms 64:3.

III. He foretells their ruin, and the consequences, Psalms 64:7.

I. 1. He prays in general: "Hear my voice."

2. Then in special, that his life may be safe: "Hide me from the secret counsel," c., Psalms 64:2.

He describes his enemies, generally: -

1. They were wicked men.

2. They were workers of iniquity.

3. They worked secret counsels against him.

4. They acted according to their counsels.

II. After this general character, he particularly describes their villany.

1. They were calumniators no sword sharper than their tongue, no arrow swifter than their accusations.

They were diligent and active to wound his credit; and the evil of their conduct was aggravated by two circumstances: 1. It was in secret: 2. It was against the innocent and upright: "They whet their sword; and bend their bow, to shoot their arrows," c.

2. They were obstinate and confirmed in mischief: - 1. "They encourage themselves in an evil thing." 2. "They commune," lay their heads together how to lay snares, c.

3. They are impudent and atheistical: "They say, Who shall see them?"

4. They are indefatigable - they are carried on with an earnest desire to do mischief they invent all crafty waits to circumvent the righteous.

5. All this they do subtly, craftily: "Both the inward thought and heart of them is deep" it is not easy to find out their snares.

III. Now he foretells, 1. Their punishment; and, 2. The event.

1. Their punishment was to be hasty, sharp, deadly, and very just. 1. "God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded." 2. Most just. For they shall "make their own tongues fall upon themselves." By their tongues did they mischief; by their tongues shall they fall.

2. The event shall be double: 1. In general, to all; 2. In particular, to the righteous.

1. Universally: "All that see them shall flee away," - fear, desert, forsake them.

2. All men "shall see and declare the work of the Lord, and consider it as his doing."

The effect it shall have on the righteous. They shall acknowledge God's justice; and farther, -

1. They shall be glad in the Lord - in the judgments he has shown.

2. They shall trust in him - that he will always protect and deliver them.

3. They shall glory - make their boast in God, and tell to all the wonders which in his justice and his mercy he has wrought for them.