The expression of confidence in God on the part of the Jewish remnant in the time of their greatest distress, under the reign of Antichrist.
Prophetically the psalm presents the position of the godly Jew in the land of Israel, in the midst of an apostate nation, under the rule of Antichrist at the close of the age.
(vs. 1) The distress of the remnant is occasioned, not only by the wickedness of Antichrist rising to its height, but also by the fact that, when it does so, he appears to prosper exceedingly while the godly are allowed to suffer. Moreover, God apparently hides His face as if alike indifferent to the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the godly.
(vv.2-11) A description of the wicked man, his evil and his prosperity. The word “wicked” throughout this passage is in the singular. The use of the singular would show that the description given is characteristic of any wicked man, though doubtless it will have its full expression in one man—the Antichrist. Thus the passage is a description of the character of the Antichrist, without being a distinct prophecy of him personally.
(1) His attitude towards men. The wicked persecutes the poor man that fears God. On the other hand he blesses the covetous man that the Lord abhors. (vv.2-3).
(2) His attitude toward God. He has no fear of God; God is not in all his thoughts. (vs. 4).
(3) His ways are without conscience of right or wrong. God’s judgments as to right and wrong are far above out of his sight. (vs. 5).
(4) His success over all his enemies leads him to imagine that he carries a charmed life, so that he will never be moved or come into adversity. (vs. 6).
(5) His language is marked by violence, deceit and vanity. (vs. 7).
(6) His acts are marked by craft, behind which there lurks the violence of a beast. His victims are the godly―the innocent and the poor. (vv. 8-10).
(7) His triumph over all these enemies, and the apparently defenseless people of God, deceive him into thinking that “God hath forgotten: he hideth his face: he will never see it” (vs. 11).
(vv.12-15) The faith of the godly in this terrible trial. They appeal to God to show His hand— “lift up thine hand.” They plead for God’s intervention; first, because of the suffering of His afflicted people; second, because God Himself has been condemned. For the wicked has said in his heart, “God will not require it.” The suffering of God’s people, and the vindication of God’s character, call aloud for God’s intervention in judgment. (vv. 12-13).
In spite of outward appearances faith knows that God has seen all the evil; God will require it with His hand; God is the Helper of the defenseless. (vs. 14).
Hence the direct appeal of God to break the wicked, and root out all his evil. (vs. 15).
(vv. 16-18) Anticipating God’s intervention, the godly celebrate with praise His answer to their appeal. In result the judgment of the wicked, summed up in Antichrist, will introduce the everlasting kingdom of the Lord― “The Lord is King forever.” As to the godly, their prayer will be answered, their heart established, their sufferings over, and no more will they be terrified by “the man of the earth” (JND).