Bible Commentary

Psalms 64:1-6

Matthew Henry on Psalms 64:1-6

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · Matthew Henry · CC0 1.0 Universal

The psalmist earnestly begs of God to preserve him from disquieting fear. The tongue is a little member, but it boasts great things. The upright man is the mark at which the wicked aim, they cannot speak peaceably either of him or to him.

There is no guard against a false tongue. It is bad to do wrong, but worse to encourage ourselves and one another in it. It is a sign that the heart is hardened to the greatest degree, when it is thus fully set to do evil.

A practical disbelief of God's knowledge of all things, is at the bottom of every wickedness. The benefit of a good cause and a good conscience, appears most when nothing can help a man against his enemies, save God alone, who is always a present help.

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commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 64:1-10EXPOSITION AT a time of great danger from domestic enemies, who threaten insurrection (Psalms 64:2), the psalmist first complains to God, and entreats his aid (Psalms 64:1-6); after which he boldly denounces his foes, a…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 64:1Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer; rather, in my complaint (Cheyne, Revised Version); see Psalms 55:2. Preserve my life from fear of the enemy. David already feels that it is not his deposition only, but his life, that…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 64:1-10Danger and faith. The psalm was probably written by David at the court of Saul. I. DANGER. (Psalms 64:2-6.) 1. To character. From slander. 2. To life. (Psalms 64:1.) From secret plots and conspiracies. II. FAITH IN GOD.…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 64:1-10Man's inhumanity to man. I. DRIVING THE GODLY MAN TO PRAYER. We see many evils we cannot remedy. They move our pity, they stir our indignation. Perhaps we argue and remonstrate; perhaps in a moment of generous impulse w…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 64:2Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity. The first danger is from secret plots, which David knows to be going on against his authority (2 Samuel 15:1-12). The seco…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 64:3Who whet their tongue like a sword (comp. Psalms 55:21; Psalms 57:4; Psalms 59:7). And bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words (comp. Psalms 11:2; Psalms 57:4). Calumny was what David especially feared,…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 64:3Bitter words. Of the ten commandments, two are directed against sins of speech—one against profane words concerning God; the other against slanderous words concerning our neighbours. No sins are apt to be thought more l…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 64:4That they may shoot in secret at the perfect; or, in their hiding places. David does not scruple to call himself "perfect," using the word in the sense in which it is used of Job (Job 1:1; Job 2:3), meaning a sincere an…Joseph S. Exell and contributors