God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's easily missed here is the specific reason for the wicked's lack of fear: their unchanging circumstances. Because they haven't faced any reverses or difficulties, they haven't been humbled by life's unpredictability, leading them to arrogantly disregard God.
God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Psalmist, in the midst of betrayal and deep distress, cries out to God, expressing his desperate need for deliverance from enemies who are relentlessly plotting against him. This verse follows his declarations of constant prayer and his assurance of God's past and future intervention, highlighting a crucial contrast: while God is eternal and unchanging, his enemies are characterized by a stubborn refusal to repent or acknowledge Him, leading them to fearlessly continue their wicked ways.
The verse speaks of God 'who abides from of old.' What does God's eternal, unchanging nature mean for His justice, especially when facing those who seem to prosper in wickedness?
This verse reminds us that God isn't a reactive deity, but one whose character is established from eternity. He 'inhabits antiquity,' meaning His perspective is timeless, His justice absolute.
An Eternal Judge
God's unchanging nature is the bedrock of our trust. Unlike fleeting human leaders or unpredictable circumstances, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. This means His judgments are not arbitrary but rooted in His eternal character.
Justice in Action
When the Psalmist says God 'will hear and afflict them,' it's not a statement of vengeance for vengeance's sake. It's a declaration that God's eternal justice will respond to wickedness. Because God is unchanging, His commitment to righteousness is also unchanging. He 'will hear' the cries against injustice, and He 'will afflict' those who perpetuate it, not out of passion, but out of steadfast adherence to His righteous decrees.
Why does the Psalmist connect the wicked's lack of 'changes' – their constant success – to their fearlessness of God?
The verse highlights a dangerous spiritual condition: when people experience continuous success without significant setbacks, they can become hardened and lose their fear of God.
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Prosperity's Deceptive Luster
It seems counterintuitive, but ease and constant good fortune can be more spiritually perilous than affliction. When life flows smoothly, without trials or challenges, individuals may start to believe they are invincible or that their actions have no divine consequence.
'No Changes' Leads to 'No Fear'
This lack of 'changes' – meaning no reverses, no afflictions, no wake-up calls – can lead to a false sense of security. The wicked, experiencing only favorable winds, begin to think they operate outside of God's oversight. They don't 'fear God' because their uninterrupted success masks the reality of divine accountability. This prosperity becomes a spiritual anesthetic, numbing them to the need for repentance or the fear of judgment.
Understand the original words
yashab · Hebrew Verb
The sovereign, rightful place of rule and authority, typically referring to God's eternal majesty and heavenly kingship over all creation. It emphasizes His enduring, unchanging, and absolute power.
yare' · Hebrew Verb
A reverent awe and deep respect for God's holiness and power. It involves recognizing God as the ultimate authority, leading to obedience, submission, and avoidance of evil.
This psalm resonates with the deep pain of betrayal, likely written during Absalom's rebellion. The enemies' 'no changes' refers to their uninterrupted success and prosperity, which paradoxically led them to fear God less, not more.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
Absalom's Rebellion
Absalom, David's son, rebels against his father, gaining significant popular support and forcing David to flee Jerusalem.
c. 1000 BC
Ahithophel's Treachery
Ahithophel, a trusted advisor to David, defects to Absalom's side, offering counsel that threatens David's life and kingdom.
c. 1000 BC
David's Flight from Jerusalem
David and his loyal followers are forced to abandon the capital, experiencing profound betrayal and vulnerability.
c. 1000 BC
David's Prayers for Deliverance
In the midst of his distress and betrayal, David pours out his heart to God, praying for justice against his enemies and for his own salvation.
This passage directly questions why the wicked prosper and seem to fear God so little, mirroring the Psalmist's observation that 'they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.'
Proverbs 1:32This proverb highlights that uninterrupted prosperity leads to foolishness and a false sense of security, directly linking to the idea that 'because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.'
Jeremiah 22:21The prophet condemns Israel for their pride and complacency, stating 'I spoke to you in your prosperity, but you said,
clarkePsalms 55:19: "God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God."
Because they have no changes - At first Absalom, Ahithophel, and their party, carried all before them. There seemed to be a very general defection of the people; and as in their first attempts they suffered no reverses, therefore they feared not God. Most of those who have few or no afflictions and trials in life, have but little religion. They become…
poolePsalms 55:19: "God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God."
God shall hear; either, 1. My prayers against them, mentioned Psalm 55:15 . Or, 2. Their reproaches, Psalm 55:12 ; their deceitful and treacherous speeches, Psalm 55:21 . He said God would hear his voice , Psalm 55:17 ; now he adds that God will hear his enemies’ voice also, of which he spake Psalm 55:3 . Afflict them; or, testify against them , or giv…
What's easily missed here is the specific reason for the wicked's lack of fear: their unchanging circumstances. Because they haven't faced any reverses or difficulties, they haven't been humbled by life's unpredictability, leading them to arrogantly disregard God.
The Psalmist, in the midst of betrayal and deep distress, cries out to God, expressing his desperate need for deliverance from enemies who are relentlessly plotting against him. This verse follows his declarations of constant prayer and his assurance of God's past and future intervention, highlighting a crucial contrast: while God is eternal and unchanging, his enemies are characterized by a stubborn refusal to repent or acknowledge Him, leading them to fearlessly continue their wicked ways.
The Psalmist, in the midst of betrayal and deep distress, cries out to God, expressing his desperate need for deliverance from enemies who are relentlessly plotting against him. This verse follows his declarations of constant prayer and his assurance of God's past and future intervention, highlighting a crucial contrast: while God is eternal and unchanging, his enemies are characterized by a stubborn refusal to repent or acknowledge Him, leading them to fearlessly continue their wicked ways.
"God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God." — What's easily missed here is the specific reason for the wicked's lack of fear: their unchanging circumstances. Because they haven't faced any reverses or difficulties, they haven't been humbled by…
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Last reviewed October 2026