Preserve My Life from Fear of the Enemy

Continuing a chronological Bible study:

(1 Samuel 22:3) And David went from there to Mizpah of Moab, and he said to the king of Moab, "Let my father and my mother, I pray you, come forth to be with you, till I know what God will do for me."

David had previously escaped to a cave and dwelt there.  His family heard he was there and came to him with many other people who desired to help David.  Now he left the cave and went to Mizpah in Moab.  He asked the king of Moab to allow his parents to stay there until he received instructions from the Lord.  David knew his parents would not be safe within reach of Saul.  Perhaps since his father was the grandson of Ruth the Moabitess, David thought his parents would be safe there in Moab.

(4) And he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.

David brought his parents to the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time David was in hiding, in his place of defense, in the cave or in another stronghold.

(5) And the prophet Gad said to David, "Abide not in the hold, depart, and get to the land of Judah." Then David departed and came into the forest of Hareth.

A prophet named Gad came to David and told him not to abide where he was but to go to the land of Judah.  It appears that David must have been still in Moab, and the prophet told him he should go to Judah, David's own tribe.  So David departed and went to the forest of Hareth, where exactly that was is unknown, but I'm sure it was in Judah.  He may have composed the following psalm at that time, as it is said that according to the Syriac Orthodox Church that played a crucial role in the transmission of Biblical texts and theological writings, this psalm was "composed by David when warned by Gad the prophet..."

(Psalm 64:1) (To the Chief Musician, a Psalm of David) Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer; preserve my life from fear of the enemy.

It seems odd that at this time David would be writing songs to the chief musician, but it shows that the psalm was not designed as an expression of mere private prayer but was intended to be used again in the later worship of God.  He probably gave that heading sometime after he wrote the psalm.

David apparently cried out to the Lord with his voice and asked the Lord to hear his prayer.  David certainly wished that his life be preserved, but he was actually praying that he be preserved from fear of the enemy.  He needed help to "Fear not."  He prayed that his faith and trust in the Lord be so strong that he would not be afraid of his enemy.  Or perhaps it was more like he prayed that his situation change so that he had no reason to fear an enemy.

(2) Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked, from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity.

David prayed that the Lord protect him from the secret plans of the wicked who were pursuing him.  David did not know what their secret plans were, but God knew, and He could protect him from whatever they were.  He prayed for protection from secret plans and also outward violence from those workers of iniquity.

(3) Who whet their tongue like a sword and aim their bitter words like arrows. (4) That they may shoot in secret at the perfect; suddenly do they shoot at him and fear not.

These wicked workers of iniquity used injurious and slanderous words against David.  They attacked him with lies.  They lay in wait to secretly attack the upright with no fear of God nor man that what they were doing was wrong.  Saul, as king, felt he was the law, but apparently he had no fear of the Lord, for he surely knew he sought to kill an innocent man.

(5) They encourage themselves in an evil matter; they commune of laying snares secretly; they say, "Who shall see them?"

The wicked enemies of David talked themselves into a frenzy, convincing themselves with their reasonings and arguments that they were justified in pursuing David.  They discussed their plans for laying traps for him with no fear that anyone would see them.

(6) They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search; both the inward of every one and the heart is deep.

They searched out evil schemes; they examined every plan.  Both the inward thoughts and the secret desires of the hearts of every one of his enemies were deep, crafty, and cunning, so as not to be searched out and fully known.

(7) But God shall shoot at them an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.

However, David knew that God knew their secret plans, and He would destroy them with a single arrow.  Very suddenly, God would take them unaware.

(8) So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves; all who see them shall flee away.

The evil things David's enemies had discussed and schemed would come upon themselves.  Those who saw what happened to them would flee for fear the same might come upon them. 

(9) And all men shall fear and shall declare the work of God, for they shall wisely consider His doing.

All men would fear and reverence the Lord when they observed the judgments of God.  They would wisely realize it was indeed the work of God.

(10) The righteous shall be glad in the Lord and shall trust in Him, and all the upright in heart shall glory.

The righteous who observed those judgments would be glad in the Lord and would trust in Him to deliver them as He had done for David.  The upright in heart would rejoice as they had cause for trust and triumph.

The fact that David indicated this psalm was to be presented to the chief musician showed his desire that it be an everlasting model of worship.  Indeed, it is a perfect model of prayer.  David earnestly asked for deliverance from his enemies and then showed his confident faith in God that his deliverance was sure.