Heading.
‘For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.'
Once again the Psalm is dedicated to the Chief Musician, but we are told nothing about it except that it is a Psalm of David.
The Psalm can be divided into four sections as follows:
1) David Prays For Deliverance From Those Who Plot Against Him And Attack Him Verbally Behind His Back (Psalms 64:1-4).
2) The Psalmists Description Of The Whisperers Who Think That Their Schemes Are Undetected (64-5-6).
3) But God Has Taken Note And Will Turn Their Schemes Back On Their Own Heads So That All Will See Their Folly And Recognise In Their Demise The Hand Of God (Psalms 64:7-9).
4) What Happens In Respect Of David Will Encourage The Righteous Who As A Consequence Will Rejoice In YHWH And Take Refuge In Him (Psalms 64:10).
David Prays For Deliverance From Those Who Plot Against Him And Attack Him Verbally Behind His Back (Psalms 64:1-4).
We are given no clue as to what situation in life caused the Psalm to be composed, but the words are from one who is facing verbal assault, albeit indirectly. They snipe at him secretly behind his back. They ‘shoot at him in secret places'. They lay ‘secret snares' saying “Who will see them?” Whenever we find ourselves the subjects of innuendoes hurled at us behind our backs, we can find comfort in this Psalm. Such a situation has been the lot of God's people throughout all centuries.
‘Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint,
Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
Hide me from the secret counsel of evildoers,
From the tumult of the workers of iniquity,
Who have whet their tongue like a sword,
And have aimed their arrows, even bitter words,
That they may shoot in secret places at the blameless,
Suddenly do they shoot at him, and are not afraid.'
The Psalm opens with a prayer that God will hear the complaint that the Psalmist makes against the whisperers who whisper behind his back, and calls on God to enable him not to be afraid of them, ‘preserve my life from the fear of the enemy'. They are not out to attack him physically, but by whispered innuendo, and secret plots behind his back. David experienced such behaviour when he was a Commander under Saul. He experienced it at the time of Absalom's rebellion. And anyone who is in a position of authority is liable to be subject to such treatment, especially those who are faithful to God. It is a reminder that we can bring such matters to God and leave then there.
So he calls on God to hide him from the ‘secret counsel of evildoers', from the consequences of their secret planning; to protect him from the vicious disturbing harsh whispers and innuendoes (‘tumult') of ‘workers of iniquity'. Note God's verdict on whisperers. They are ‘evildoers' and ‘workers of iniquity', as are all whisperers. Whisperers in churches should take note of this. If they have complaints they should bring them out openly, not seek to undermine the authority of those in positions of responsibility by surreptitious means, otherwise they too are doing evil and working iniquity.
There was nothing haphazard about these whispers. Those who whispered behind closed doors took a great deal of trouble about it. They sharpened their tongues as they would a sword. Their words were carefully aimed and let loose in order to cause the most damage. They shot from secret places where they could not be seen and identified. And it was all aimed at one who was blameless of what they accused him of. They spoke innuendoes and lies.
‘They shoot at him, and are not afraid.' They are brazen in their efforts, and confident that they will not be identified. Thus they have no fear. But they are clearly afraid to come out into the open.