Psalms 55:19 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

God shall hear My prayer against them, mentioned Psalms 55:15, or their reproaches, Psalms 55:12, their deceitful and treacherous speeches, Psalms 55:21. He had said, God would hear his voice, Psalms 55:17, now he adds that God will hear his enemies' voice also, of which he spake, Psalms 55:3. And afflict them Or, testify against them; or, give an answer to them, as יענם, jagnaneem, may be properly rendered; not in words, but in deeds, and by dreadful punishments, as this word signifies Ezekiel 14:4, which seems best to agree with the word next foregoing, God will hear and answer them. Even he that abideth of old Hebrew, וישׁב קדם, vejosheb kedem, he that inhabiteth antiquity, or eternity: who is eternal, and, therefore, unchangeable and almighty; who sits judge from the beginning of time, and hath always presided in the affairs of the children of men, and consequently, as he ever was, so he still is and ever will be, ready to defend his people, and to destroy their enemies; and none can prevent or hinder him in either of these designs. Chandler, after Cocceius, translates the clause, Even he who reigns from everlasting: and observes, “The introducing God, as reigning of old, and holding the government of the world from before all ages, has great propriety, and was one of the principal considerations which established David's hope in God, that he would deliver him from this unnatural rebellion.” Mortal men, though ever so high and strong, will easily be crushed by an eternal God, and are a very unequal match for him. Because they have no changes No afflictions, no crosses, nor disappointments, no interruption to the constant course of their prosperity, no trouble and distress to empty them from vessel to vessel; therefore they fear not God Their prosperous success makes them go on securely and obstinately in their wicked courses, without any regard to God, or dread of his judgments; there being nothing which more hardens men's hearts, or makes them more presumptuous and incorrigible, than uninterrupted prosperity. See Psalms 30:6; Proverbs 1:32; Jeremiah 22:21.