497_The unshakable joy of the righteous

Psalm 64 Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint;
preserve my life from dread of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,
from the throng of evildoers,
3 who whet their tongues like swords,
who aim bitter words like arrows,
4 shooting from ambush at the blameless,
shooting at him suddenly and without fear.
5 They hold fast to their evil purpose;
they talk of laying snares secretly,
thinking, “Who can see them?”
6 They search out injustice,
saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.”
For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.

7 But God shoots his arrow at them;
they are wounded suddenly.
8 They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them;
all who see them will wag their heads.
9 Then all mankind fears;
they tell what God has brought about
and ponder what he has done.

10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord
and take refuge in him!
Let all the upright in heart exult!

A young missionary named John was stationed in a hostile region, encountering its deep-seated opposition to Christianity. One night, a group of armed men broke into his home. With only a Bible in his hand, he knelt in prayer, his heart crying out to God. The intruders stood confused. One raised his weapon but stopped midway, staring. Then, without explanation, they all abruptly turned and left. The next day, John discovered that many in the village had been watching through windows. They reported seeing a circle of brilliant light surrounding him, and what looked like men in white standing beside him. John had no idea what they saw, but one thing was certain: God had heard his cry and preserved his life.

Psalm 64 depicts David in a similar moment of peril, crying out to God from the middle of a ring of men who threatened his life with their threats or slander. Though we don’t know the exact historical context of this psalm, it is clear that David was in mortal danger and was aware of cunning adversaries setting traps against his life. His thoughts uttered themselves in secret yet audible prayer.

The psalm unfolds in two parts: first, a desperate plea for help (verses 1–6), and then, a confident proclamation of God’s justice and deliverance (verses 7–10). The striking contrast between fear and joy, danger and deliverance, emphasize yet again that the righteous can have unshakable joy and courage even in the midst of life’s most terrifying storms – because God is just and powerful for the right.

David opens with three urgent requests: “Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy. Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers.” These are the prayers of a man who feels the breath of death on his neck. David knew the terror that the enemy spread before him, and feared its paralysis. Therefore he pleaded, both for protection and for deliverance from the fear associated with the enemy’s attacks. For fear can strangle courage and distort one’s perception of reality.

David describes his enemies with chilling clarity. They “sharpen their tongues like swords” and “aim bitter words like arrows.” These are not men fighting fair battles; these are schemers, assassins in the shadows. Their weapons are lies, slander, and secret ambushes. They say, “Who can see us?” for they have no fear of God. In verse 6, David adds, “For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep.” The heart is deceitful above all things. The schemes of the wicked are not surface-level impulses—they are deeply rooted in twisted desires and perverted reasoning.

This echoes Jeremiah 17:9–10: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” David understood this truth well. He was not fighting against mere flesh and blood, but against hearts that had embraced evil to its depths.

But God is neither silent nor impotent: “God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly.” The ambush that was meant for David becomes the trap that ensnares his enemies. The very tongues used to destroy others now turn against their owners. David says in verse 8: “They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads.” What an image—people looking on in astonishment, shaking their heads not just at the downfall of the wicked, but at the strange and mighty ways in which God works.

This is not the first time God has intervened with stunning simplicity. At the Tower of Babel, He confused the language common to the builders, and dismantled their grand scheme without the need to lift arms against them. When the Syrian army laid siege to Samaria, it only took the sound of chariots to cause the entire army to flee in panic. Again and again, Scripture shows us that God’s methods are unexpected, often quiet, but always effective. His justice may seem delayed, but it is never denied.

In verse 9, David writes, “Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done.” The result of God’s intervention is not just the deliverance of the righteous, but the awe of the nations. When God acts, it leaves an impression on all who witness it. His justice has a ripple effect. It causes people to reflect, to fear Him, and to speak of His mighty deeds. And this, ultimately, is his glory – not just the personal deliverance of his chosen one but a testimony to the world that God is the real sovereign and ruler.

The final verse of the psalm is triumphant: “Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!” For the storm in the heart has passed. David experiences the present, unshakable joy of the righteous that is not dictated by circumstances, but rooted in the person and promises of God.

This is why, centuries later, Paul wrote from a Roman prison, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4). Paul wasn’t free or comfortable. He was awaiting possible execution. Yet he rejoiced, not because he enjoyed suffering, but because he was secure in Christ. Rome could not affect his identity, his future, or his hope—for all of it depended on who God was to him. The joy of the righteous is grounded in the love of God, not in circumstances.

Let us not conform to the world, seeking the fleeting pleasures of success, comfort, wealth, approval. For their removal plunges one into despair. The righteous never need to despair. Their joy is rooted, not in what is seen or touched, but in the fact that their help is in the unchangeable God. His love is unfailing and his justice will always prevail. When we take refuge in God, we trust One who is never taken by surprise, never overwhelmed, and never absent.

So David ends with the call: “Let all the upright in heart exult!” This is not a solitary celebration. It is a chorus of praise. The righteous may walk through fire, but they have the assurance that God is with them.

We may be in situations where we feel ambushed—by circumstances, by people, or even by our own fears. Maybe the dread is as overwhelming as the actual danger. Psalm 64 encourages us to resort first of all to prayer in every need. For he sees, and hears, and cares for us. And he acts to bring about justice in his perfect love and wisdom – though perhaps not in the way or time we expect.

Let us choose joy—not as a denial of our pain and danger, but as a declaration of our faith. Let us rejoice in the Lord, even as the enemy plots. Let us take refuge in Him, even when we don’t understand His ways. For joy unspeakable is not a fairytale for the righteous, but a solid reality for all who trust in the living God. The Lord fights for His people and will one day make all things right.

Therefore, let the righteous, who have put their faith in the Lord, rejoice in him.