A Prayer For The Lord’s Help
October 7, 2020
Commentary
David was being slandered and violence was present. This psalm can be divided as follows:
I. Asking for deliverance (vv. 1-11).
1. Places his case before the Lord (v. 1) “Deliver me, O Lord from the evil men …”
2. Pleads his case before the Lord (vv. 2-11). He explains how the evil man’s plans are:
a. Belligerent thoughts (v. 2) “Which imagine mischiefs in their heart …”
b. Bitter words (v. 3) “They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent …”
c. Brutal deeds (v. 4-5) “Keep me, O Lord from the hands of the wicked …”
3. Plans of evil men are brought to nothing by:
a. A God who responds (vv. 6-7) “Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle …”
b. A God who restrains (v. 8) “Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked …”
c. A God who rules (vv. 9-11) “Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth …”
II. Assurance of deliverance (vv. 12-13).
1. For those rejected by men (v. 12). “The Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted …”
2. For those right with God (v. 13). “Surely the righteous shall give thanks …”
Application
Probably I will never be pursued by someone trying to physically kill me. However, I have some enemies that I will face such as peer pressure, materialism, etc. I need to pray just like David did that God would deliver, preserve, and keep me from falling prey to these.
Psalms 140:1– 13 (NET)
1 O Lord, rescue me from wicked men. Protect me from violent men,
2 who plan ways to harm me. All day long they stir up conflict.
3 Their tongues wound like a serpent; a viper’s venom is behind their lips. (Selah)
4 O Lord, shelter me from the power of the wicked. Protect me from violent men, who plan to knock me over.
5 Proud men hide a snare for me; evil men spread a net by the path. They set traps for me. (Selah)
6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God.” O Lord, pay attention to my plea for mercy.
7 O Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle.
8 O Lord, do not let the wicked have their way. Do not allow their plan to succeed when they attack. (Selah)
9 As for the heads of those who surround me— may the harm done by their lips overwhelm them.
10 May he rain down fiery coals upon them. May he throw them into the fire. From bottomless pits they will not escape.
11 A slanderer will not endure on the earth; calamity will hunt down a violent man and strike him down.
12 I know that the Lord defends the cause of the oppressed and vindicates the poor.
13 Certainly the godly will give thanks to your name; the morally upright will live in your presence.