In this Psalm the afflicted Israel are brought into trial with “the violent man” and the “evil speaker” and those who are associated with them. They (or Jesus, their great forerunner and also their sympathizing Lord in all this affliction) cry for protection against the devices of these enemies and for judgment upon them, especially the judgment of “fire” and the “pit” upon the chiefs or “heads.” (See Rev. 19:20; 20:1.) He then expresses His confidence that the Lord whom He makes all His trust, will maintain His cause as that of the poor and righteous one.
The enemies contemplated are too clearly, I would say, to be questioned, the great infidel apostate ones of the last days—“the Beast” and “the False Prophet,” and their army or associates.
At different times in the ripening of human iniquity, there has been this confederacy of kings and counselors against the Lord’s anointed. Pharaoh and his magicians withstood Moses; so Balak and Balaam afterward. Saul took counsel of the witch, that deep abomination in the land; so did Absalom and Ahithophel meet together against David. The Jews and Caiaphas, with Herod the king, are in company against the true anointed One. And so in latter days will the beast and the false prophet resist the righteous seed in the earth, and affect the power and honor of the Lord Himself. Whether in Egypt, in Midian, in Israel, or in Christendom, thus it has been and will be (and in spirit always is), man putting forth all his powers, his strength and his wisdom combining. But the Lord is to prove that He sitteth above all water-floods and reigneth king forever. He will have them in derision.