This is the cry of distress, and yet not of despair. The singer is beset by wily enemies who plan and plot against him with malicious and persistent determination. In great detail he describes their method. It is secret counsel and studied cruelty. They have one object, to harm the righteous by shooting at him from secret places. They strengthen themselves by declaring that none can see them. This is the singer's distress. The warfare is unequal. His foes are not in the open, but under cover. At verse Psa 64:7 we have the beginning of his account of the reason why his distress is not despair. Over against his foes' evil determination to shoot at the righteous is the fact that God will shoot at them. That is the security of the trusting sod. In New Testament times the truth is expressed differently, but the principle abides, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" The practical application of this to the righteous is that there is no need for them to attempt to take vengeance on their enemies. Their one care is to trust God. Such trust will issue in gladness, and the inevitable vindication of their faith. In order to do this we ever need to pray as the psalmist does, not so much for deliverance from enemies as for deliverance from fear of them.
Psalms 64:1-10
1 Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:
3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
5 They encourage themselves in an evil matter:a they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?
6 They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.
7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.
8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away.
9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.
10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.