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Psalm 10:8,9
He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor…

Nehemiah 4:11
And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.

Habakkuk 3:14
Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicingwas as to devour the poor secretly.

the perfect

Psalm 59:3,4
For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; notfor my transgression, norfor my sin, O LORD…

John 19:6
When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucifyhim, crucifyhim. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucifyhim: for I find no fault in him.

1 Peter 2:22,23
Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: …

suddenly

Psalm 64:7
But God shall shoot at themwith an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded.

1 Samuel 18:11
And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wallwith it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

1 Samuel 19:10
And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.

shooting suddenly
The suddenness of the attack underscores the element of surprise and the vulnerability of the victim. In ancient warfare, archers were highly valued for their ability to strike from a distance without warning, as seen in1 Samuel 31:3, where archers critically wound King Saul. This suddenness can also be seen as a metaphor for unexpected trials or persecutions faced by the faithful. The imagery of shooting can be connected to spiritual warfare, where the "fiery darts of the wicked" are mentioned inEphesians 6:16, symbolizing the spiritual attacks believers face.

without fear
The attackers' lack of fear suggests a brazen confidence in their actions, possibly due to a perceived lack of accountability or belief that they will not face consequences. This reflects the mindset of the wicked, who often act with impunity, as seen inPsalm 10:4, where the wicked do not seek God and believe they will not be held accountable. The absence of fear can also indicate a hardened heart, resistant to the conviction of sin. In contrast, the fear of the Lord is a recurring biblical theme, representing reverence and obedience to God, as seen inProverbs 9:10. This phrase serves as a reminder of the moral and spiritual blindness that can accompany sin.

Psalm 64:4 begins, “ambushing the innocent in seclusion.” The picture is of evildoers hiding in the shadows, preparing their assault on those who have done them no wrong. Scripture repeatedly highlights the dark allure of secret sin—notice howProverbs 1:11–12 depicts the same sly invitation to “lie in wait” for the blameless, andPsalm 10:8–9 describes the wicked crouching in ambush like a lion. The emphasis here is two-fold:

• Innocence of the victim—no provocation given (Matthew 5:11 reminds us that slander often targets the righteous).

• Isolation of the setting—the attackers exploit privacy, confident no one sees. Yet2 Chronicles 16:9 declares that the Lord’s eyes range “throughout the earth,” assuring us that no scheme truly stays hidden.

The next phrase, “shooting suddenly,” shifts from preparation to action. Like archers loosing arrows, the conspirators strike with speed—and, in context, the arrows are words (Psalm 64:3). This element of surprise intensifies the harm:

• Slander and verbal assaults often hit before we can raise a defense (Psalm 11:2 mirrors the image of arrows shot “from the shadows at the upright in heart”).

• Sudden attacks test our readiness;Ephesians 6:16 urges believers to take up “the shield of faith” precisely because flaming arrows come without warning.

Even when ambush feels overwhelming,Psalm 64:7 promises that God will “shoot them with arrows” in return; His justice meets their surprise assault with a decisive counter-strike.

Finally, the assailants act “without fear.” They believe there will be no accountability, echoingPsalm 36:1 andRomans 3:18: “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Such arrogance fuels bold wickedness, but it is short-lived.Luke 12:4–5 contrasts earthly boldness with the ultimate reckoning before the One who has authority over both body and soul. For the believer, this section offers comfort: our attackers may appear fearless, yetHebrews 10:31 reminds us that “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Psalm 64:4 paints a three-step portrait of evil—hidden plotting, sudden attack, and brazen confidence. Seen through the broader testimony of Scripture, each step is answered by God’s watchful eye, protective presence, and righteous judgment. When the innocent face secret slander, they can rest in the certainty that nothing escapes the Lord, no ambush is too quick for Him to counter, and every fearless perpetrator will ultimately answer to His perfect justice.