The Plot Against Paul

Psalm 64

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

1O God, listen to my complaint.

Do not let my enemies’ threats overwhelm me.

2Protect me from the plots of the wicked,

from the scheming of those who do evil.

3Sharp tongues are the swords they wield;

bitter words are the arrows they aim.

4They shoot from ambush at the innocent,

attacking suddenly and fearlessly.

5They encourage each other to do evil

and plan how to set their traps.

“Who will ever notice?” they ask.

6As they plot their crimes, they say,

“We have devised the perfect plan!”

Yes, the human heart and mind are cunning.

7But God himself will shoot them down.

Suddenly, his arrows will pierce them.

8Their own words will be turned against them, destroying them.

All who see it happening will shake their heads in scorn.

9Then everyone will stand in awe,

proclaiming the mighty acts of God,

realizing all the amazing things he does.

10The godly will rejoice in the LORD

and find shelter in him.

And those who do what is right

will praise him.

There was a secret plot against the life of Paul. Forty Jews had vowed not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. They asked the leading priests and other leaders to tell the Romans, who had Paul in custody, to bring him back to the council again for further investigation of his case. These forty men would be waiting in ambush along the road.

Somehow Paul’s nephew heard of the plot and told Paul, who sent him to the Roman commander. Because Paul was a Roman citizen, the commander wanted to make sure he got a fair Roman trial, so he sent Paul under armed guard to the Roman governor in Caesarea and avoided the ambush entirely (Acts 23:12-24). Apparently there were forty very hungry people left sitting at a roadside somewhere.

In Psalm 64 David calls for God to protect him from “the plots of the wicked,” and he is confident that “the godly will rejoice in the Lord and find shelter in him.” This can be seen from Paul’s experiences, because the plotters’ schemes resulted in Paul’s being able to talk about Jesus before two Roman governors and a Jewish king. Later he was sent to Rome in chains, but there he spread the gospel even more. God is able to take what others intend for evil and use it for good (see Genesis 50:20).

When your enemies assail and your heart begins to fail,

Don’t forget that God in heaven answers prayer;

He will make a way for you and will lead you safely through—

Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

CHARLES A. TINDLEY

Bible Networking

For a few tips on avoiding traps and snares (verse 5), see Psalm 91:2-3 and Proverbs 1:17-19.

Notable Quotable

“The deepest and most closely guarded secrets of those opposed to [God’s] way are to be fully and utterly exposed. God knows and in time everybody will.”

JOHN I. DURHAM