Welcome to this study on Psalm 64. It’s a short psalm, only ten verses long, but it’s packed with insight. Today, we’ll take a slightly different approach: I’ll share some commentary, then read through the psalm with minimal interruption, and wrap up with a conclusion.
If you recall Psalm 63, David was in the wilderness, fleeing for his life. In Psalm 64, we aren’t told exactly where he is, but we see him under attack again.
This time, the attack isn’t physical. The weapons are words—lashon hara, evil speech. How do you defend against that?
Psalm 65 reminds us God is our rescuer. No matter what the enemy brings, God can bring us through it and accomplish something wonderful in the process.
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch writes:
“It is possible to detect and investigate overt acts of criminality. When a crime is committed, detectives look for clues, they find the perpetrator, and he is prosecuted. But the slanderous word leaves no trace as a rule. The spoken word, once uttered, is gone beyond recall. And even if the one who originally uttered the words should be found out, he could readily prove that his remarks had been quite innocent. Who then would be able to detect his evil intention, which makes such speech a crime?”
Rabbi Hayyim Kushan adds:
“Our modern enemy is very familiar to modern man. His weapons are propaganda, slander, and rumor. His greatest weapon is his anonymity. Who can fight that?”
This is exactly the challenge David faces.
David is dealing with enemies who attack with words, not swords. Lashon hara—evil speech—is their tool. And the most damaging words often come from those who want to remain anonymous.
Think about it: people who were once close—friends or acquaintances—sometimes drift out of your life. Then, you start hearing things. They hide, break fellowship, and suddenly their words are like arrows shot from a bow at you. And if you confront them?
“I didn’t say that. Somebody misquoted me. That’s not what I meant.”
The enemy attacks from hiding, and the fear they generate is spiritual—it’s dread, not physical harm. David prays: Preserve me from the dread of the enemy, because fear destroys faith and testimony.
Notice something else: the more the enemy speaks, the bolder they become. They strengthen themselves in their evil intentions, repeating lies until they believe them, adding imagination to their story. They think no one sees them—but God does.
Pay attention to repeated motifs: hidden, blameless, shooting from hiding. The psalm contrasts human fear and deception with divine protection and justice. Whatever the enemy plans eventually backfires.
To the choirmaster. A psalm of David.
Psalm 64:1–10
1 Hear my voice, O God, in my moaning; preserve my life from dread of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the secret [council] of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers.
3 They sharpen their tongues like a sword; they aim bitter words like arrows.
4 Shooting from hiding at the blameless, suddenly, without fear.
5 They strengthen themselves in their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who will see them?”
6 They search out injustice, saying, “We are blameless; we have made a diligent search.” The inward mind and heart of a man are deep.
7 But God shoots His arrow at them; suddenly they are wounded.
8 They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will shake 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.
This psalm contains reversals and repeated motifs:
Commentators often call this a “psalm of reversals.” Whatever the enemy plans is reversed by God.
How do you defend yourself against anonymous slander? You really can’t.
Focus on your purpose. Do what God has given you to do with confidence, joy, and love. Let God handle the enemy’s schemes.
Even Yeshua faced lies and false accusations repeatedly. He didn’t waste energy correcting every misstatement. He lived His life, spoke truth, and answered questions when necessary. We can do the same.
Pray for stronger faith, not just comfort. God hears the moaning in our souls and will reverse the plans of those who attack from hiding.
May God bless you. May He bring comfort to your heart when attacked unfairly. Remember Psalm 64, and return to it when you need encouragement. Shalom.
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1-6 Hear my voice, O God, in my moaning. Preserve my life from dread of the enemy. 2 Hide me from the secret [counsel] of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers, 3 who have sharpened their tongues like a sword, who aim a bitter word like an arrow, 4 shooting from hiding at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear. 5 They strengthen themselves in their evil word. They talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who would see them?” 6 They search out injustice, saying, “We are blameless. We have made a diligent search.” For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.
7-10 Then God shot an arrow. Suddenly they are [fatally] wounded. 8 They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them. All who see them will shake their heads. 9 Then all mankind fears, and they tell what God has brought about and ponder what He has done. 10 Let the righteous one rejoice in Adonai and take refuge in Him! Let all the upright in heart exult!
REFERENCES:
Verse 6
R’ S.R. Hirsch: “It is possible to detect and investigate overt acts of criminality. But the slanderous word … leaves no trace, as a rule, but the spoken word, once uttered, is gone beyond recall. And even if he who had originally uttered the word should be found out, he could readily prove that his remarks had been quite innocent. Who then would be able to detect his evil intention which makes such speech a crime?” (The Hirsch Tehillim, pp.508-9)
R’ Eli Cashdan: “Our psalmist’s foe is very familiar to modern man. His weapons are propaganda slander, and rumor. His greatest weapon is his anonymity. Who can fight an unknown foe?” (The Koren Tehillim, pp.310)
Verses 7-8
1Samuel 31:3 The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers.
Proverbs 12:18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts…
Isaiah 49:2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand he hid me. He made me a polished arrow; in His quiver He hid me away.
Revelation 19:15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
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