The pace of perpetrated evil has quickened in recent days. No longer is a daily read of your newsfeed sufficient. It may take a minute by minute update to stay abreast and prepared for the worst. But it’s what is not being reported that’s so concerning, as the dark sinister forces of the underworld are now it seems working double shifts. David in Psalm 64 discusses this kind of activity in his day, and provides some encouragement when it would appear the deck is stacked against us.
1 Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy. 2 Hide me from the secret counsel of evildoers, from the tumult of those who do iniquity, 3 Who have sharpened their tongue like a sword.
Psalm 64:1-3a
To begin, our present threatened state is a call to pray (to complain) to the Most High. Some of us are stymied, not by brute force, but by fear of the enemy. This fact is well known, allowing the wicked to simply use their words against us. As such, we can be paralyzed without a sword being drawn. We can also be haunted by the thought that those in high places are scheming against us in secret. While they might be, we take our complaint to God. He possesses every attribute that we might require to protect and save us should the occasion arise. We hide behind His robe.
3 They aimed bitter speech as their arrow, 4 to shoot from concealment at the blameless; suddenly they shoot at him, and do not fear. 5 They hold fast to themselves an evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly; they say, “Who can see them?”
Psalm 64:3b-5
We have today the means to perpetrate evil anonymously and instantaneously without leaving a computer keyboard. This is cowardly to say the least, but time after time it proves to be quite effective. With a keystroke or two, one can destroy a reputation, or at least cast doubt on what was known to be true. The process of “fact checking” is not at all independent, and is simply the second line of attack.
6 They devise injustices, saying, “We are ready with a well-conceived plot”; for the inward thought and the heart of a man are deep.
Psalm 64:6
Evil people are always scheming. While they find the masses easy targets, they greatly fear the deep thinkers, those who fear God and possess his wisdom. As such, they devise “well-conceived” plots to take no chances.
7 But God will shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly they will be wounded.8 So they will make him stumble; Their own tongue is against them; all who see them will shake the head.
Psalm 64:7-8
Yet we know that God always has the upper hand. The high and mighty, the cunning secret masters of the universe, will be taken down with one, maybe two shots, surviving long enough for all to witness them eat their words as they stumble to the ground. This is the “law of retaliation” (lex talionis), that is, their sins will boomerang on them!1
His mischief will return upon his own head, and his violence will descend upon his own pate. Psalm 7:16
1 VanGemeren, W. A. (1991). Psalms. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5, p. 431). Zondervan Publishing House.
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