Psalm 64

What’s Happening?

King David's life is in danger, so he brings his troubled thoughts to God (Psalm 64:1). A group of hidden conspirators plot to bring him down (Psalm 64:2). Their innuendos are like swords. Their insinuations are like arrows (Psalm 64:3). Anonymity emboldens his critics, and it’s as if he’s ambushed on every side (Psalm 64:4). 

David’s conspirators boast about how well hidden, secretive, and effective their plans are (Psalm 64:5). Like melodramatic villains they congratulate each other on their “perfect” plan (Psalm 64:6a). David reflects that it’s not just his current enemies but all humans that are capable of this type of cruelty, especially when they’re anonymous or just one person in an angry crowd (Psalm 64:6b).

But David knows God is a better conspirator. In just one and half verses, all of the enemies’ lies are exposed. Suddenly, they’re ambushed by their own arrows (Psalm 64:7). And their own lies will curve back and ruin them (Psalm 64:8a). The brevity of God’s countermeasures prove just how inept of their lies actually are. 

David knows eventually all humanity will respond in awe at the God who turns tables, reverses plots, and ambushes the ambusher (Psalm 64:9). David also knows that everyone who brings their troubled thoughts to God will celebrate their ultimate victory over the plots of their enemies (Psalm 64:10). 

Where is the Gospel?

God rescued Jesus from his many conspirators, just as he did for his ancestor David. (Matthew 12:14). Jesus frequently claimed that he had authority to restructure the temple, the center of Jewish religion (Mark 11:16-17). Angry, the religious elite plotted in anonymity to destroy and discredit Jesus, and preserve their religious power (Mark 11:18, 28). Tragically, Jesus’ enemies were experts in the Psalms. They would have known David’s warning about the way mobs and anonymity breeds cruelty, and eventually defeat. But they ignored the Scriptures they were supposed to teach and instead released innuendo and insinuations at Jesus, the son of David (John 8:41). 

Their “perfect” plan turned one of Jesus’ own disciples against him. They incited a mob to demand Jesus’ death, giving them plausible deniability (Luke 23:21). Their plan was so perfect; they killed Jesus, just as they intended.

But just as the plots of David’s conspirators were undone in one and half verses, the plots of the Pharisees were undone with seven words: “He is not here; he has risen” (Matthew 28:6). The arrows and accusations they hurled only condemned themselves and exposed their hypocrisy (Matthew 23:13).The very death they plotted to preserve their power undid it (Colossians 2:15). When Jesus rose from the dead he became a new temple, dismantling the entire power structure of the Pharisees (John 2:19). 

Jesus’ resurrection turned the tables, reversed the plots, and ambushed his ambushers. That means all of us who bring our troubled thoughts to Jesus will be protected. No accusation can rob us of victory because our King triumphs over all lies, even the ones that kill us.

See For Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who reverses plots. And may you see Jesus’ resurrection as proof of final victory for all who bring their troubles to him.