John Calvin Commentary Psalms 64:1

"Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint: Preserve my life from fear of the enemy." — Psalms 64:1 (ASV)

Hear my voice, O God! He begins by saying that he prayed earnestly and with vehemence, stating at the same time what made this necessary. The voice is heard in prayer in proportion to the earnestness and fervor we feel. He then specifies the circumstances of distress in which he was at that time, and takes notice of the dangers to which his life was exposed from enemies, along with other points suited to elicit God's favorable consideration.

His praying that God would protect his life proves that it must have been in danger at this time. In the second verse, he suggests that his enemies were numerous, and that, without divine assistance, he would be unable to withstand their attacks. Some difficulty is connected to the words, because they are open to two meanings.

The Hebrew term סוד, sod, which means a secret, is understood by some to refer here to the secret plots of the wicked, and by others, to denote their meeting together for consultation. In translating it, I have employed a word that admits of either interpretation. The term רגשת, rigshath, used in the second part of the verse, may also be rendered in two ways, as meaning either an assembly of men, or noise and uproar. It comes from רגש, ragash, a root meaning to make a tumult. This would suggest that the word סוד, sod, in the former clause might refer to the clandestine plots of the wicked, and רגשת, rigshath, in the latter, to their open violence; and that David prayed to be protected, on the one hand, from the malicious purposes of his enemies, and, on the other, from the violent actions by which they proceeded to carry them out.

But the first mentioned meaning, which I have adopted, seems the most simple and natural: that he solicits God's compassion by complaining of the number of those united against him. Still, his language implies that he regarded heaven's protection as fully sufficient against the greatest combination of adversaries.

I may add that there is an implied plea in his prayer that strengthens his case, in what he says of the malice and wickedness of those who were opposed to him. For the more cruel and unjust the conduct of our enemies may be, we have all the more reason to believe that God will intervene on our behalf.