Psalms

Psalms 64: God overturns the hidden evil plan

Begin in prayer

Before we hear about words aimed from hidden places, let us remember the God who sees every heart. Let us seek refuge in Christ and place our hidden fears and spoken words before the God who sees.

It will happen at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are settled on their dregs, who say in their heart, “Yahweh will not do good, neither will he do evil.”

Zephaniah 1:12

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that God sees hidden evil and gives the righteous reason to rejoice and take refuge in Him. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

David asks God to hear his complaint and preserve him from fear of the enemy. The wicked sharpen their tongues and shoot words like arrows from hidden places against the innocent. Encouraging one another, they lay secret snares and boast that no one will see their perfect plan. Yet God will strike them suddenly, and their own tongues will bring them to ruin. Those who see will fear, tell God's work and wisely consider what He has done. The righteous will rejoice in the LORD, find refuge in Him and praise Him with upright hearts.

As you read Psalms 64, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God sees hidden evil, turns destructive words against their speakers and gives the righteous refuge and joy.

The prayer seeks help against both the enemy and the fear that hidden hostility creates. Swords and arrows picture speech used to wound the innocent, with secrecy making the attack sudden and difficult to answer. The plotters encourage each other's evil and treat an unseen snare as a perfect plan. Their question about who will see exposes the pride beneath their careful concealment. God's arrow answers their arrows, and His sudden judgment overturns the advantage they thought secrecy gave them. Their tongues become the cause of their own downfall, so the weapon they used against others turns upon them. What began in hidden counsel becomes an open work of God that people fear and declare. Wise reflection sees His judgment in the reversal, while the righteous find gladness in the LORD Himself. David can bring his fear to the God who sees every hidden plot and gives His people refuge.

How does Psalm 64 show us that God sees hidden evil, turns destructive words against their speakers and gives the righteous refuge and joy?

God sees the secret plans behind destructive words.

The plotters sharpen their tongues and encourage one another while hiding their snares. Their confidence depends on believing no one sees. David brings the hidden threat before the God whose sight reaches it.

God turns evil against its makers and gives the upright joy.

God's sudden judgment strikes the people who planned a sudden attack. Their own tongues bring the ruin they meant for the innocent. The watching world fears His work, while the upright rejoice and take refuge in Him.

Memorise

The righteous shall be glad in Yahweh, and shall take refuge in him. All the upright in heart shall praise him!

Psalm 64:10

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what hidden wrong in my words must I bring before Jesus?

The plotters ask, “Who will see them?” Their secret plans use words to harm the innocent. God's judgment answers their boast and turns the righteous toward joy and refuge in Him.

We also have spoken hidden wrongs as though God did not hear. Jesus died for His people, carrying the punishment their evil words and secret sins deserved. He was raised to life. His finished work removes the whole debt of His people, and the God who sees hidden evil now gives them refuge.

Turn from sin and trust Jesus for mercy. Jesus knows the hidden guilt of those who come to Him, and His promise to trusting sinners is forgiveness. Confess the hidden wrong in your speech, and bring Him the fear caused by another person's lies. Jesus sees the hidden wrongs against His people and receives their cause beneath His faithful care.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God sees hidden evil and gives the righteous reason to rejoice and take refuge in Him. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that hidden evil is open before Him and that He gives the upright refuge and joy. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Don’t marvel at this, for the hour comes, in which all that are in the tombs will hear his voice, and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.

John 5:28-29

God who sees, please expose the hidden wrongs in our words and bring us to Jesus for forgiveness. Protect those harmed by secret lies and overturn wicked plans. Give Your people refuge from both danger and fear. Teach us to speak truth, consider Your works wisely and rejoice in Your faithful care. Amen.