John Calvin Commentary Psalms 71:10

"For mine enemies speak concerning me; And they that watch for my soul take counsel together," — Psalms 71:10 (ASV)

For my enemies have said of me, etc. He pleads, as an argument with God to show him mercy, the additional circumstance that the wicked took greater license in cruelly persecuting him, from the belief they held that he was rejected and abandoned by God. The vilest of men, as we all know, become more bold and audacious when, in tormenting the innocent, they imagine that this is a matter in which they do not have to deal with God at all.

Not only are they encouraged by the hope of escaping unpunished, but they also boast that everything happens according to their wishes when no obstacle presents itself to restrain their wicked desires. What happened to David at that time is almost the ordinary experience of the children of God; namely, that the wicked, once they believe that God’s people are exposed to them as prey by His will, give themselves uncontrolled license to do them harm.

Measuring God’s favor only by people's present condition, they believe that all whom He allows to be afflicted are despised, forsaken, and rejected by Him. With this conviction, they encourage and stimulate one another to commit every harassing and injurious act against them, as people who have no one to defend or avenge them.

But this malicious and insulting conduct on their part should encourage our hearts, since the glory of God requires that the promises He has so frequently made of helping the poor and afflicted should be fulfilled. The ungodly may flatter themselves with the hope of obtaining pardon from Him, but this foolish imagination does not in any way lessen the criminality of their conduct. On the contrary, they do a double injury to God by taking away from Him what especially belongs to Him.