---
title: "Clarke"
description: "The title, To the chief Musician, or conqueror, A Psalm of David. The Syriac says, \"composed by David when warned by Gad the prophet, who said, Stay not i"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/psalms/64"
---

The *title, To the chief Musician*, or *conqueror, A Psalm of* *David*. The *Syriac* says, "composed by David when warned by Gad the prophet, who said, Stay not in Masrob, because Saul seeks thy life." Some think it was composed by David when he was persecuted by Saul; or during the rebellion of Absalom. But *Calmet* thinks it is a complaint of the captives in Babylon.
Verse [Psalms 64:1](../../../kjv/psalms/64/1). ***Hear my voice*** — The psalmist feared for his life, and the lives of his fellow-captives; and he sought help of God. He *prayed*, and he lifted up his *voice*; and thus showed his *earnestness*.

Verse [Psalms 64:2](../../../kjv/psalms/64/2). ***Hide me from the secret counsel*** — They *plotted* his destruction, and then formed *insurrections* in order to accomplish it.
***Workers of iniquity*** — Those who made *sin* their *labour*, their daily employment; it was their *occupation* and *trade*. It is supposed that by this title the Babylonians are intended. See [Psalms 6:3](../../../kjv/psalms/6/3); [Psalms 14:4](../../../kjv/psalms/14/4); [Psalms 36:12](../../../kjv/psalms/36/12); [Psalms 53:4](../../../kjv/psalms/53/4); [Psalms 59:2](../../../kjv/psalms/59/2).

Verse [Psalms 64:3](../../../kjv/psalms/64/3). ***Who whet their tongue like a sword*** — They *devise* the evil they shall speak, and meditate on the most provoking, injurious, and *defamatory words*; as the soldier *whets* his sword that he may thereby the better cut down his enemies.
***Their arrows - bitter words*** — Their defamatory sayings are here represented as deadly as *poisoned arrows*; for to such is the allusion here made.

Verse [Psalms 64:4](../../../kjv/psalms/64/4). ***That they may shoot in secret*** — They *lurk*, that they may take their aim the more surely, and not miss their mark.
***Suddenly*** — When there is no fear apprehended, because none is seen.

Verse [Psalms 64:5](../../../kjv/psalms/64/5). ***They commune of laying snares*** — They lay snares to *entrap* those whom they cannot slay by *open* attack or private *ambush*.

Verse [Psalms 64:6](../../../kjv/psalms/64/6). ***They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent**********search*** — The word חפש *chaphash*, which is used *three* times, as a noun and a verb, in this sentence, signifies *to strip off the* *clothes*. "They investigate iniquities; they perfectly investigate an investigation." Most energetically translated by the old *Psalter*: *Thai ransaked wickednesses: thai failled ransakand in* *ransaking.* To *ransack* signifies to search every corner, to examine things part by part, to turn over every leaf, to leave no hole or cranny unexplored. But the word *investigate* fully expresses the meaning of the term, as it comes either from *in*, taken privately, and *vestire*, to *clothe, stripping the man bare*, that he may be exposed to all shame, and be the more easily wounded; or from the word *investigo*, which may be derived from *in, intensive*, and *vestigium*, the *footstep* or *track* of man or beast. A metaphor from hunting the stag; as the *slot*, or *mark of his foot*, is diligently sought out, in order to find whither he is gone, and whether he is *old* or *young*, for huntsmen can determine the age by the *slot*. *Tuberville*, in his Treatise on *Hunting*, gives rules to form this judgment, To this the next verse seems to refer.

Verse [Psalms 64:7](../../../kjv/psalms/64/7). ***But God shall shoot at them*****with*****an arrow*** — They endeavour to *trace* me out, that they may shoot me; but God will *shoot at them*. This, if the Psalm refer to the times of David, seems to be prophetic of Saul's death. The archers pressed upon him, and sorely wounded him with their arrows. [1 Samuel 31:3](../../../kjv/1-samuel/31/3).

Verse [Psalms 64:8](../../../kjv/psalms/64/8). ***Their own tongue to fall upon them-selves*** — All the plottings, counsels, and curses, they have formed against me, shall come upon themselves.

Verse [Psalms 64:9](../../../kjv/psalms/64/9). ***And all men shall fear*** — They endeavoured to *hide* their mischief; but God shall so punish them that all shall *see* it, and shall acknowledge in their chastisement the just judgment of God. The wicked, in consequence, *shall fear*, and,

Verse [Psalms 64:10](../../../kjv/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.
I. The psalmist, in danger, commends his cause to God, [Psalms 64:1-2](../../../kjv/psalms/64/1-2).
II. Complains of his enemies, who are described by their inward devices, and outward conduct, [Psalms 64:3-6](../../../kjv/psalms/64/3-6).
III. He foretells their ruin, and the consequences, [Psalms 64:7-10](../../../kjv/psalms/64/7-10).
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](../../../kjv/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.

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