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Commentary on Psalms 64 verses 7–10
We may observe here,
I. The judgments of God which should certainly come upon these malicious persecutors of David. Though they encouraged themselves in their wickedness, here is that which, if they would believe and consider it, was enough to discourage them. And it is observable how the punishment answers the sin. 1. They shot at David secretly and suddenly, to wound him; but God shall shoot at them, for the ordains his arrows against the persecutors (Psa 7:13), against the face of them, Psa 21:12. And God's arrows will hit surer, and fly swifter, and pierce deeper, than theirs do or can. They have many arrows, but they are only bitter words, and words are but wind: the curse causeless shall not come. But God has one arrow that will be their death, his curse which is never causeless, and therefore shall come; with it they shall be suddenly wounded, that is, their wound by it will be a surprise upon them, because they were secure and not apprehensive of any danger. 2. Their tongues fell upon him, but God shall make their tongues to fall upon themselves. They do it by the desert of their sin; God does it by the justice of his wrath, Psa 64:8. When God deals with men according to the desert of their tongue-sins, and brings those mischiefs upon them which they have passionately and maliciously imprecated upon others, then he makes their own tongues to fall upon them; and it is weight enough to sink a man to the lowest hell, like a talent of lead. Many have cut their own throats, and many more have damned their own souls, with their tongues, and it will be an aggravation of their condemnation. O Israel! thou hast destroyed thyself, art snared in the words of thy mouth. If thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it. Those that love cursing, it shall come unto them. Sometimes men's secret wickedness is brought to light by their own confession, and then their own tongue falls upon them.
II. The influence which these judgments should have upon others; for it is done in the open sight of all, Job 34:26.
1.Their neighbours shall shun them and shift for their own safety. They shall flee away, as the men of Israel did from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, Num 16:27. Some think this was fulfilled in the death of Saul, when not only his army was dispersed, but the inhabitants of the neighbouring country were so terrified with the fall, not only of their king but of his three sons, that they quitted their cities and fled, Sa1 31:7.
2.Spectators shall reverence the providence of God therein, Psa 64:9. (1.) They shall understand and observe God's hand in all (and, unless we do so, we are not likely to profit by the dispensations of Providence, Hos 14:9): They shall wisely consider his doing. There is need of consideration and serious thought rightly to apprehend the matter of fact, and need of wisdom to put a true interpretation upon it. God's doing is well worth our considering (Ecc 7:13), but it must be considered wisely, that we put not a corrupt gloss upon a pure text. (2.) They shall be affected with a holy awe of God upon the consideration of it. All men (all that have any thing of the reason of a man in them) shall fear and tremble because of God's judgments, Psa 119:120. They shall fear to do the like, fear being found persecutors of God's people. Smite the scorner and the simple shall beware. (3.) They shall declare the work of God. They shall speak to one another and to all about them of the justice of God in punishing persecutors. What we wisely consider ourselves we should wisely declare to others, for their edification and the glory of God. This is the finger of God.
3.Good people shall in a special manner take notice of it, and it shall affect them with a holy pleasure, Psa 64:10. (1.) It shall increase their joy: The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, not glad of the misery and ruin of their fellow-creatures, but glad that God is glorified, and his word fulfilled, and the cause of injured innocency pleaded effectually. (2.) It shall encourage their faith. They shall commit themselves to him in the way of duty and be willing to venture for him with an entire confidence in him. (3.) Their joy and faith shall both express themselves in a holy boasting: All the upright in heart, that keep a good conscience and approve themselves to God, shall glory, not in themselves, but in the favour of God, in his righteousness and goodness, their relation to him and interest in him. Let him that glories glory in the Lord.
“The just person will take delight in the Lord and hope in him, and all the upright of heart shall be praised.” We have certainly sung this with voice and heart. Christian consciences and tongues have spoken these words to God: The just one will take delight not in the world but in the Lord. “Light has dawned for the just,” it says somewhere else, “and delight for the upright of heart.” You may ask where delight is to be found. Here you have it: “The just one will take delight in the Lord.” And somewhere else: “Delight in the Lord, and he will give you the aims of your heart.” What are we being shown? What is being granted us? What are we being told? To take delight in the Lord. But can you take delight in what you do not see? Or perhaps we do see the Lord? We have that safely promised us; but now “we walk by faith, as long as we are in the body we are away from the Lord.” By faith, not by sight. When will it be by sight? When another thing John says is fulfilled: “Beloved, we are children of God, and it has not yet appeared what we shall be. But we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” Then there will be great and perfect delight, then joy will be full, when it is no longer hope suckling us with milk but the real thing providing us with solid food.
"The just man shall rejoice in the Lord" [Psalm 64:10]. Now the just man is not sad. For sad were the disciples at the Lord's being crucified; overcome with sadness, sorrowing they departed, they thought they had lost hope. He rose again, even when appearing to them He found them sad. He held the eyes of two men that walked in the way, so that by them he was not known, and He found them groaning and sighing, and He held them until He had expounded the Scriptures, and by the same Scriptures had shown that so it ought to have been done as it was done. For He showed in the Scriptures, how after the third day it behooved the Lord to rise again. [Luke 24:46] And how on the third day would He have risen again, if from the Cross He had come down?...Therefore let us all rejoice in the Lord, let us all after the faith be One Just Man, and let us all in one Body hold One Head, and let us rejoice in the Lord, not in ourselves: because our Good is not ourselves to ourselves, but He that has made us. Himself is our good to make us glad. And let no one rejoice in himself, no one rely on himself, no one despair of himself: let no one rely on any man, whom he ought to bring in to be the partner of his own hope, not the giver of the hope.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 64:10 serves as a triumphant declaration following a psalm of lament, articulating the ultimate response of God's people to His divine justice and faithfulness. It powerfully asserts that those who live righteously will find their deepest joy and security in the Lord, confidently trusting in Him, and ultimately glorifying His name in response to His righteous acts and deliverance.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs Parallelism to reinforce its central message. The phrases "The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him" and "all the upright in heart shall glory" exhibit synonymous parallelism, where "the righteous" are equated with "all the upright in heart," and "gladness" and "trust" are intrinsically linked to "glorying" in the Lord. This repetition with variation emphasizes the holistic response of God's faithful people. Furthermore, the psalm as a whole utilizes Contrast as a dominant literary device, setting the fate of the wicked (sudden destruction, dismay, public scorn) against the destiny of the righteous (gladness, trust, glory). This stark contrast highlights God's justice and the ultimate vindication of His people. The "arrows" of the wicked in earlier verses are contrasted with God's own "arrow" Psalms 64:7, making God the ultimate and decisive agent of justice.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 64:10 profoundly connects to the overarching biblical narrative of divine justice and the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom. It teaches that true gladness and security are not found in the absence of trials or the defeat of enemies, but in an unwavering, active relationship with God. The righteous are those who, by faith, align themselves with God's character and purposes, and their vindication is not merely personal but serves as a public demonstration of God's sovereignty and righteousness to a watching world. This verse underscores the eschatological hope that, despite present struggles, God will ultimately set all things right, and His people will rejoice in His perfect justice and faithfulness.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
For believers today, Psalms 64:10 offers an enduring beacon of hope and a clear directive for living. It calls us to cultivate a profound, unshakeable joy that transcends circumstances, a joy rooted solely in the character and faithfulness of God. When faced with slander, injustice, or hidden opposition, our primary response should not be despair or retaliation, but a deepening of our trust in the Lord, knowing that He sees, He hears, and He will act in His perfect timing. This verse encourages us to pursue a life of integrity and uprightness, understanding that such a life is the pathway to experiencing God's vindication and being able to genuinely praise and glorify Him without shame. Our ultimate boast is not in our own strength or cleverness, but in the Lord's power and goodness, thus becoming a powerful testimony to a world desperately searching for true justice and lasting joy.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does it mean to be "righteous" and "upright in heart" in this context?
Answer: In the biblical sense, "righteous" (H6662, tsaddîyq) refers to one who is in right relationship with God, living in accordance with His commands and character. It implies moral integrity, justice, and faithfulness. "Upright in heart" (H3477, yâshâr and H3820, lêb) emphasizes inner sincerity and purity of motive, meaning one's thoughts and intentions are also aligned with God's will, not just outward actions. Together, these terms describe those who genuinely follow God and whose lives reflect His truth, distinguishing them from the wicked who plot evil and speak deceitfully, as described earlier in Psalms 64.
How can the righteous be glad and trust in the Lord when they are suffering or facing severe opposition?
Answer: The gladness and trust described here are not contingent on the immediate absence of suffering, but on the unwavering character of God and the certainty of His ultimate justice. The psalm itself is a lament, indicating that David was suffering. The gladness comes from knowing that God is sovereign, that He hears prayers, and that He will ultimately vindicate His people and judge the wicked. This is a faith-based joy and security that looks beyond present circumstances to God's promised future intervention, as seen in the broader biblical emphasis on enduring hope (e.g., Romans 8:28).
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 64:10 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament righteous found gladness and trust in the Lord through His acts of deliverance, the New Covenant believer finds this joy and security in the Lord because of Christ's perfect righteousness imputed to them. We are declared "righteous" not by our own works, but by faith in Him who became sin for us, "that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" 2 Corinthians 5:21. Our gladness is rooted in the finished work of Christ on the cross, where He triumphed over all the "secret plots" and "bitter words" of the enemy, disarming the powers and authorities Colossians 2:15. Our trust is in Him who is "the author and finisher of our faith" Hebrews 12:2, who has secured our eternal salvation and promises to never leave us nor forsake us Hebrews 13:5. And finally, "all the upright in heart shall glory" in Christ, not in themselves. Our "glory" is in the Lord, for "He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord" 1 Corinthians 1:31. The ultimate vindication of God's justice is seen in the resurrection of Jesus, which assures believers of their own future resurrection and eternal joy in His presence 1 Peter 1:3-9.