Chapter Sixty-Three

The psalm can be considered as written by David at the beginning of the rebellion of Absalom, before his flight from Jerusalem, when David saw the means that his enemies were using for their purpose. They, as those who had revolted against the anointed king seated on the throne, were “rebels” (Ps 63:3); their chief instrument was not external violence, but “wounding words, spread in secret” (Ps 63:4-5), and although they “became firm in... their intent” to overthrow the king, nevertheless they acted still “secretly” (Ps 63:6).

Such a picture of hostile actions against David corresponds to the beginning of the rebellion and the preparation of the revolt before its open disclosure.

Protect me, O Lord, from the terrible and rebellious enemy, secretly preparing an attack against me (2–7). But my enemies will not succeed: their unrighteousness will be the cause of their own destruction, and then (after their destruction) all people will see that the punishment of wicked enemies is God’s work, and the righteous one will rejoice in the Lord (8–11).

Psalm 63:2. Hear me, O God, in my prayer; preserve my life from the fear of the enemy; “Preserve my life from the fear of the enemy”—a Hebraism—from the terrible enemy, such as Absalom was, ready to take David’s life in order to seize the throne.

Psalm 63:4. who have sharpened their tongue like a sword; they drew their bow—a wounding word, “Sharpened their tongue like a sword.” David’s enemies spoke and held intercourse with the people not to investigate the truth, but to cause harm to the king through the falsehood that they instilled in the people about David. Their tongue was a “sword.”

Psalm 63:5. to shoot in secret at the blameless; they suddenly shoot at him and fear nothing. “To shoot in secret at the blameless.” The actions of David’s enemies at first were hidden, since direct and open revolt against him could easily arm the people, not against the king, whom he still loved and in whom he believed, but against his enemies. “Blameless”—David calls himself completely “unspotted,” not guilty of that which they accused him.

Psalm 63:6. They set firm their evil intention, they consult to conceal their net, saying: “Who will see them? “(David’s enemies) said: who will see them?” In the secrecy of their actions they found strength to spread lies about the king. The enemies reckoned that no one close to the king sees their schemes, and therefore cannot expose them. They feared only people, but forgot about God.

Psalm 63:7. They search out iniquity, they investigate thoroughly, even searching into the inner life of a person and the depths of the heart. All of David’s activity and life was subjected by his enemies to strict investigation not for evaluation, but for the discovery of facts that could be used to accuse the king. Since no such facts were found, David’s enemies tried to penetrate into his inner world, his disposition—that is, lacking external factual material for his condemnation, they resorted to discrediting his inner aspirations, his disposition, for example, saying of the king that he “did not love” the people.

Psalm 63:8. But God will strike them with an arrow: suddenly they will be wounded; Psalm 63:9. their own tongue will strike them; all who see them will flee from them. Psalm 63:10. And all people will fear and will declare the work of God, and they will understand that it is His work. Psalm 63:11. And the righteous will be glad in the Lord and will put their trust in Him; and all the upright in heart will be vindicated. In their calculation that “no one will see them” (Ps 63:6), the enemies forgot the Lord. But He knows and sees the actions of man, and the evil deeds of enemies will serve only to their punishment and destruction; then everyone will see the manifestation of God’s terrible judgment, “the work of God,” and the righteous David will rejoice (verses 10–11).