John Calvin Commentary Psalms 140:2

"Who devise mischiefs in their heart; Continually do they gather themselves together for war." — Psalms 140:2 (ASV)

To the chief Musician, etc. I cannot bring myself to restrict this Psalm to Doeg, as the great body of interpreters do, for the context will clearly show that it speaks of Saul and of the counselors who continually inflamed the king—himself sufficiently incensed—against the life of one who was a saint of God. As he was a figure of Christ, we should not wonder that the agents of the devil directed so much of their rage against him. And this is the reason why he comments so sharply on their rancor and treachery.

The terms wicked and violent men denote their unwarranted attempts at his destruction without any provocation. He therefore commends his cause to God, as having sought peace with them, as never having injured them, but as being the innocent object of their unjust persecution. The same rule must be observed by us all, as it is against violence and wickedness that the help of God is extended. David is not multiplying mere terms of reproach as men do in their personal disputes, but conciliating God’s favor by supplying a proof of his innocence, for God must always be on the side of good and peaceable men.

Who imagine mischiefs in their heart. Here he charges them with inward malignity of heart. And it is plain that the reference is not to one man merely, for he passes to the plural number (in a manner sufficiently common), reverting from the head to all his associates and partners in guilt.

Indeed, what was formerly said in the singular number may be taken indefinitely, as grammarians say. In general, he repeats what I have noticed already: that the hostility to which he was subjected arose from no cause of his. From this we learn that the more wickedly our enemies assail us, and the more treachery and clandestine acts they manifest, the nearer is the promised aid of the Holy Spirit, who Himself dictated this form of prayer by the mouth of David.

The second clause may be rendered in three ways. Literally, it reads, who gather wars, and so some understand it. But it is well known that prepositions are often omitted in Hebrew, and no doubt he means that they stirred up general enmity by their false information, being like the trumpet that sounds to battle.

Some render the verb—to conspire, or plot together, but this is a far-fetched and meager sense. He intimates afterwards how they stirred up unjust war by the wicked calumnies which they spread, as they could not crush a good and innocent person by violence, except by first overwhelming him with calumny.