Psalm 64 - A Prayer for the Fearful

Message Introduction

Psalm 64 ESV

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 1 Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy. 2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers, 3 who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows, 4 shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear. 5 They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see them?” 6 They search out injustice, saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.” For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep. 7 But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly. 8 They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads. 9 Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done. 10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!

Main word: Suddenly (verse 4, 7)

Wicked shoot at the righteous with arrows

God will shoot them with arrow and they are struck down

Message Outline

1. Prays to God for protection (Psalm 64:1-2)

2. Suddenly attacked by his enemies (Psalm 64:3-6)

3. Enemies are suddenly attacked by God (Psalm 64:7-9)

4. Takes refuge in God alone (Psalm 64:10)

Message Exposition

Section # 1 - Psalm 64:1-6 - David’s Complaints and Concerns

1. The psalmist prays to God for protection (Psalm 64:1-2)

Psalm 64:1 ESV

1 Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.

David’s plea: Hear me

David’s petition # 1: Preserve me from fear

Psalm 64:2 ESV

2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers,

David’s petition # 2: Protect me from my foes

2. The psalmist is suddenly attacked by his enemies (Psalm 64:3-6)

David describes his fears

The enemies secretly plot

Psalm 64:3 ESV

3 who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows,

Their swords of attack (The enemies use their tongues as weapons)

Words can be very destructive

James 3:2–5 ESV

2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!

James 3:6–8 ESV

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

James 3:9–12 ESV

9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Isaiah 55:10-11 - God’s word

Psalm 64:4 ESV

4 shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear.

Their strategies

Procedures/ways/techniques/methods

Their sudden attacks

The shoot at him suddenly

The blameless person is being hit hard and quickly

Psalm 64:5 ESV

5 They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see them?”

Their scheming

Psalm 64:6a (ESV)

6a They search out injustice, saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.”

Their self-importance

In pride, they congratulate themselves/arrogance

Humanity’s almost bottomless pit of evil in their heart

Psalm 64:6 (ESV)

6b For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.

Jeremiah 17:9 ESV

9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?

Romans 3:12–18 ESV

12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” 14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Section # 2 - Psalm 64:7-10 - David’s Certainty and Comfort

3. The psalmist’s enemies are suddenly attacked by God (Psalm 64:7-9)

Psalm 64:7 ESV

7 But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly.

God shoots them down and they are brought into judgment, suddenly

Illustration of Haman in the Book of Esther

Psalm 64:8 ESV

8 They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads.

The wicked will be exposed, judged, and brought to ruin

Psalm 64:9 ESV

9 Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done.

Humanity will fear God and ponder what He has done

4. The psalmist takes refuge in God alone (Psalm 64:10)

Psalm 64:10 ESV

10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!

The righteous will take refuge in God

The upright in heart will rejoice

The Gospel in Psalm 64

Psalm 64 There are few places in Scripture where the destructive power of the tongue is more vividly described than here. Accusations conjured up in a sinister plot to ruin a righteous man’s reputation are deadly to the soul and directly attack the image of God (vv. 1–6; Rom. 3:13; James 3:9). But the one who finds his refuge in God’s justice rather than in taking revenge will be comforted to know that God will someday judge in such a way as to vindicate his children before the whole world (Ps. 64:7–9; Matt. 24:30). Reviled Christians are invited to rejoice that they have the privilege of carrying on the line of the prophets, and of being so identified with Christ that they suffer for his name (Ps. 64:10; Matt. 5:11–12). In the meantime, believers must keep their eyes on the future and patiently wait for Christ to come and judge all evildoing. Such faith will ensure that our speech does not fall to the level of our tormentors (James 5:7–12)—an exercise in patience that follows in the footsteps of Christ himself (1 Pet. 2:23).[1]

[1]Robertson, G., & Ware, B. A. (2013). Psalms. In B. Chapell & D. Ortlund (Eds.), Gospel Transformation Bible: English Standard Version (p. 710). Crossway.

Discussion Questions

What new thoughts have you had since reading and studying Psalm 64:1-10 or from Hearing James’ message on the passage?

What verse from this passage will you commit to meditating on and memorizing this week? Write it down. Share it with others.

Bringing It Home

Pondering the Passage:

What is the main point? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Learn

What did I learn?

Where has my thinking, beliefs, and values been challenged in this passage?

Do I find any of the characteristics ways of thinking or behaving of the ungodly in my life?

List and describe those areas in which I struggle.

Love

What does this passage teach me about God?

Has my thinking about God changed?

How have I learned to love God more and others selflessly as a result of this passage?

Have I learned ways that I have acted unlovingly towards others that I must change?

Live

What are the practical steps that I can take to apply to what I have learned in this passage?

Where must I change?

What do I need to repent and confess?

How will pondering and personalizing this passage change how I live my life today and moving forward?

Praying the Passage (ACTS)

What specific things can I pray adoring God because of what I learned in this passage?

What specific things do I need to confess based on what I learned from this passage?

What specific things do I need to thank God for based on what I learned from this passage?

What specific things do I need to request in prayer (supplication) based on what I learned from this passage?