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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.
"And the tongues of them have been made weak upon them" [Psalm 64:8]. Let them whet now their tongues like a sword, let them confirm to themselves malignant discourse. Deservedly to themselves they have confirmed it, because "the tongues of them have been made weak upon them." Could this be strong against God? "Iniquity," he says, "has lied to itself;" "their tongues have been made weak upon them." Behold, the Lord has risen, that was killed....What do you think of Him who from the cross came not down, and from the tomb rose again? What therefore did they effect? But even if the Lord had not risen again, what would they have effected, except what the persecutors of the martyrs have also effected? For the Martyrs have not yet risen again, and nevertheless they have effected nothing; of them not yet rising again we are now celebrating the nativities. Where is the madness of their raging? To what did they bring those their searchings, in which searchings they failed, so that even, when the Lord was dead and buried, they set guards at the tomb? For they said to Pilate, "That deceiver;" by this name the Lord Jesus Christ was called, for the comfort of His servants when they are called deceivers; they say therefore to Pilate, "That deceiver said when yet living, After three days I will rise again:" [Matthew 27:63] ...They set for guards soldiers at the sepulchre. At the earth quaking, the Lord rose again: such miracles were done about the sepulchre, that even the very soldiers that had come for guards were made witnesses, if they chose to tell the truth: but the same covetousness which had led captive a disciple, the companion of Christ, led captive also the soldier that was guard of the sepulchre. We give you, they say, money; [Matthew 28:12-13] and say ye, while yourselves were sleeping there came His disciples, and took Him away....Sleeping witnesses ye adduce: truly you yourself hast fallen asleep, that in searching such devices hast failed. If they were sleeping, what could they see? If nothing they saw, how are they witnesses? But "they failed in searching searchings:" failed of the light of God, failed in the very completion of their designs: when that which they willed, nowise they were able to complete, surely they failed. Wherefore this? Because "there drew near a Man and a deep heart, and God was exalted."...
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SUMMARY
Psalms 64:8 powerfully declares the divine principle of poetic justice, asserting that the malicious schemes and slanderous words of the wicked will ultimately rebound upon themselves, leading to their public exposure and isolation. This verse serves as a profound testament to God's active intervention in human affairs, ensuring that the very instruments of evil employed by the unrighteous become the means of their own downfall, resulting in a visible vindication for the righteous and a clear demonstration of divine judgment.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 64:8 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message of divine retribution. Personification is evident in the phrase "make their own tongue to fall upon themselves," where the abstract concept of "tongue" (representing speech and malicious plots) is given the agency to "fall," as if it were a physical entity capable of causing a person's demise. This contributes to the strong sense of Poetic Justice, a recurring biblical theme where the punishment precisely mirrors the crime, and the wicked are ensnared by their own devices. The verse also utilizes Irony, as the very instrument intended to cause harm to others (the slanderous tongue) becomes the source of the perpetrators' own destruction and public shame. Furthermore, the phrase "all that see them shall flee away" employs Hyperbole to emphasize the totality and public nature of their disgrace, suggesting a universal and immediate aversion to the exposed wicked. These devices combine to create a vivid and impactful image of divine retribution and the inevitable consequences of malicious speech.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse profoundly articulates God's unwavering commitment to justice, revealing that He is not merely a passive observer but an active participant in human affairs, ensuring that righteousness ultimately prevails. It underscores the biblical truth that while the wicked may operate in secrecy and appear to prosper for a time, their hidden deeds will inevitably be exposed, and their own instruments of malice will become their undoing. This divine principle serves as both a stern warning to those who engage in deceit and slander, and a powerful source of comfort and vindication for the righteous who suffer unjustly. It assures believers that God sees their affliction and will bring about a public demonstration of His justice, turning the tables on their oppressors and ensuring that evil does not have the final word.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 64:8 offers profound encouragement to those who have been targets of malicious speech, false accusations, or hidden plots. It reminds us that even when our adversaries operate in the shadows, God sees their every move and will, in His perfect timing, bring their hidden works to light. This should cultivate a deep trust in God's sovereign justice, freeing us from the burden of seeking our own revenge or feeling defeated by injustice. Instead, we are called to commit our cause to Him, knowing that He is our ultimate vindicator and that His justice is perfectly executed. Conversely, the verse serves as a potent warning against the destructive power of our own words and intentions. It challenges us to examine our hearts and tongues, ensuring that our speech is always seasoned with grace and truth, rather than malice or deceit. It is a call to integrity, reminding us that every word we utter and every plot we conceive has consequences, and ultimately, our own words can become the very instrument of our downfall if used for evil.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does this verse mean that every person who slanders others will immediately face public disgrace?
Answer: While Psalms 64:8 describes a clear principle of divine justice, its fulfillment is not always immediate or visibly dramatic in every individual case. The Psalms often use poetic and hyperbolic language to express spiritual truths and the ultimate outcome of God's judgment. It signifies that, ultimately, the wicked's schemes will fail, and their true character will be exposed, leading to their downfall in God's timing and according to His methods. Sometimes this is a public disgrace, other times it's an internal consequence, or it may be reserved for final judgment. The core message is that God ensures justice, and the wicked's own actions will contribute to their ruin, whether in this life or in the final judgment. This truth provides comfort and assurance to the righteous, regardless of the immediate observable outcome, as God's justice will ultimately prevail, as seen in passages like Romans 12:19.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 64:8 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He, the perfectly righteous one, was relentlessly slandered, falsely accused, and conspired against by those who "sharpened their tongue like a sword" as described in Psalms 64:3 and plotted in secret to destroy Him. Yet, the very plots and accusations intended to bring about His downfall—His crucifixion—were divinely orchestrated to become the means of their own spiritual undoing and the world's salvation. The cross, intended as an instrument of shame for Jesus, became the glorious means by which sin and death were conquered, exposing the futility of human evil and the triumph of God's perfect plan. Those who rejected Him and called for His crucifixion ultimately brought judgment upon themselves, as their spiritual blindness and malice led to their own separation from God's grace. Furthermore, in His resurrection and ascension, Jesus was supremely vindicated, and His enemies were put to open shame. He is the ultimate judge before whom all hidden things will be revealed, and "every knee shall bow" as declared in Philippians 2:10 and Philippians 2:11, demonstrating that the "tongues" of those who slandered Him will ultimately "fall upon themselves" in eternal judgment, while all who see Him in His glory will worship Him. The light of Christ exposes the darkness, and the truth of God's word ensures that no lie or malicious plot can ultimately stand against His kingdom, as He is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! and the righteous judge who will render justice to all.