November 1, 2023
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in selections from Psalms? Here’s today’s reading:
Psalms 140-141 (NIV)
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1Rescue me, Lord, from evildoers;
protect me from the violent,
2 who devise evil plans in their hearts
and stir up war every day.
3 They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s;
the poison of vipers is on their lips…..Continue Reading
When I was reading these two Psalms it reminded me of Job. For David`s enemies were speaking evil of him and wanted to do him harm. But David who we know was a man after God`s own heart looked to his Lord as his Deliverer [ Salvation] in verse7. In verses 12,13 David says that God will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. So the righteous will give thanks to God and dwell in His presence. In chapter 141 David is asking God to help him guide what he says so he won`t say anything evil. I like the way that verse 8a is translated in the NIV. [ But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge —–. May the Lord bless us.
It is so important for us to remember not to only pray against the evil happening around us but also for God’s wisdom and strength to not fall victim to it ourselves. The sin of this world can be such a slippery slope so we must keep our eyes fixed on Him in order to be bold enough to speak against it and strong enough not to become a part of it. David felt this tug I am sure and you feel it in his prayers in these chapters.
Psalm 140 – makes me think of the Jewish people and what is going on today, the evildoers that have such hate in their hearts, I would imagine this would be a good Psalm for them to be reading and trusting God for his protection right now. Verse 8 do not grant the wicked their desires, Lord; do not let their plan’s succeed. Verse 10 May burning coals fall on them; May they be thrown into the fire, into miry pits , never to rise again.
Psalm 141 David asked God to guard over his mouth, so he couldn’t speak evil, something we all need help with, we should only be using it to bring honor to God instead of cursing or judging others. David also asked for his heart not to be drawn into evil acts which come from evil desires. We need to be changed on the inside, be stronger in God by spending more time in his word and in daily prayer ,then we can watch out for the traps and situations that separate us from God.
I love 141 verse 3 and 4… “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies!”
We know God called David a man after his own heart…but we know David sinned horribly in his life as well…and this verse shows that he was aware of his propensity or ability to sin, and properly humbled himself before God in asking God to help keep him from sinning.
The last part of verse 4 makes me think of Paul in Corinthians in 1 Cor 15:33: “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals’. Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning.” That verse about bad company seems to be taken from popular literature of the day, or a play perhaps? But the take away is very relevant!
Verse 3 makes me think of James 1:26: “In anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” David knows that his speech reveals the true nature of his heart…as Jesus said in Matt 12:34 “For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” So he asks God to guard his mouth, while at the same time we know he has asked God to search him and reveal any sinful way in him. David did sin horribly in his life, but he also provides excellent examples of how to come before God with a broken and contrite heart, and how to lean into God during times of adversity!
Psalms 140-141
Psalms 140-141; 2 Samuel 2-4
How comforting to know when people come against us that we have God to turn to and to know that He is on our side…that is when people are coming against us when we are doing right. We can call on Him to be our defender for the battle belongs to the Lord. We can love our enemies because vengeance is the Lord’s. But that does not mean we can’t pray against their success, or that God will cause them problems or make the plans they make for us fall on them. It is very typical for David to pray these things against his enemies. And as much as it is good to have God as a refuge and shield, He is also the one who can help us not fall into the same speech or behavior that our enemies are committing or projecting to us. It is the world’s way to return evil for evil….you hurt me, so I hurt you. But God’s way is to do good to those who persecute and misuse us. When we do that, we show a power and influence that defies what the world can accomplish. And God is the source of that power and we are wise to seek Him as David does here to give us the help we need.
An elder in one of our churches used to cite this verse with regard to how we should respond to rebuke from a fellow believer. I think we have lost this sentiment and instead become defensive or claim victimization when confronted…that is why we overlook sin in our midst or even justify ourselves, because we can’t handle the truth.
“Let the righteous strike me;
It shall be a kindness.
And let him rebuke me;
It shall be as excellent oil;
Let my head not refuse it.”