What Sinners Do to God’s People (vv. 1-5). David’s presence among Saul’s leaders was like light in darkness (Eph. 5:8ff.) and health in a hospital. When confronted by a godly man like David, Saul and his leaders either had to change their ways or get rid of him, and they chose the latter course. They were evil men (v. 1) who planned evil (v. 2), spoke evil (v. 3), and practiced evil (vv. 4-5). Note that verse 3b is quoted in Romans 3:13 as part of the evidence Paul assembled that proves the depravity of the human heart. The phrase “the evil man” (v. 1) is collective, for the pronouns in the psalm are plural (vv. 2-4, 5, 8). What David needed from the Lord was wisdom to avoid their traps and protection from their violent plans. You meet the “hunting” metaphor in 9:16; 31:4; 119:110; 141:9; and 142:3, and the “sharp tongue” image is found in 52:2; 55:21; 57:4; 59:7; and 64:3. As God’s people in an evil world, we must expect the opposition of the enemy and trust the Lord to enable us to overcome (John 16:33).