Psalm 64:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done.

NIV: All people will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done.

NASB: Then all people will fear, And they will declare the work of God, And will consider what He has done.

CSB: Then everyone will fear and will tell about God's work, for they will understand what he has done.

NLT: Then everyone will be afraid; they will proclaim the mighty acts of God and realize all the amazing things he does.

KJV: And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.

NKJV: All men shall fear, And shall declare the work of God; For they shall wisely consider His doing.

David predicts that when God turns the tables on evil plotters (Psalm 64:2–6), it will serve as a warning to the world (Psalm 64:7–8). Instead of destroying David from the shadows, these enemies will be exposed and ruined to their own shame. That the people "ponder" means they do not immediately understand what has happened—they know God has acted to bring judgment and they reflect on it.

Believers may not fully comprehend the Lord's ways, but they should meditate upon His character. Because He is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and immutable, we cannot assume our minds can contain His (Isaiah 55:8–9). It is best to ponder the fact that His way is perfect (Psalm 18:30), acknowledge Him and submit to His perfect will (Proverbs 3:5–6). Even those who have no faith in God can—and should—learn something from the example of those caught in their own sinful plots (Proverbs 19:25).

Psalm 64:7–10 follows descriptions of David's enemies and their plans. Now, he reveals the result: that God will turn plots against the plotters and make them fearful examples for the rest of the world. Psalm 64 ends with the theme of the Lord's retributive justice and how God's people should respond to it.

David prays for rescue from his enemies. He accuses them of slanderous and evil words, aimed at his own destruction. These men think they are hidden and that their plots will not be uncovered. Yet David trusts that the Lord will expose evil and make an example of these wicked attackers. This is cause for all believers to trust in God and praise Him.

Unlike some psalms which mention God's judgment on David's enemies, this psalm is not explicitly connected to any moment in David's life. Themes of ambush, conspiracy, and lies suggest his experiences with both Saul (1 Samuel 19:11) and Absalom (2 Samuel 15:13–14). This song repeats themes common to David's writing, such as his faith that God will expose his enemies and make examples of them to the world (Psalm 40:3; 52:6–7; 58:10–11).

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 4/27/2024 4:41:28 PM