PSALM 141 - PASSIONATE PRAYER FOR PROTECTION

PSALM 141

PASSIONATE PRAYER

FOR PROTECTION

INTRODUCTION: The occasion for David’s lament is not known. Although he is distressed over snares set by his enemies, he expresses confident trust in the Lord.

Psalm 141:1 Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.

Susie: This is an urgent prayer.

Susan: David is sending up an S.O.S. to the Lord. He was in an intensely desperate situation.

Susie: Many of David’s psalms begin with praise, singing, expressions of worship. But in this one, he cuts right to the chase that he needs the Lord’s assistance immediately.    

Psalm 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Susan: David’s situation called for emergency prayer rather than waiting for the morning or evening times of offering incense and prayer.

Susie: Incense emits a pleasant fragrance when burned and was symbolic of the people’s prayers being pleasing to God. David asks that his prayers be pleasing to the Lord.

Psalm 141:3 Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

Susie: David’s enemies often slandered and taunted him. They hurled insolent, defaming words as sharp as arrows, trying to make him look bad in front of his army and subjects.

Susan: David asked the Lord to be the door-keeper of his lips to restrain his vocabulary from degrading to the level of his enemies.

James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Susie: David knew he was incapable of taming his speech himself, so he asked the Lord to keep him from opening his mouth in any inappropriate way.

Psalm 141:4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

Psalm 141:4 (VOICE) Don’t allow my deepest desires to steer me toward doing what is wrong or associating with wicked people or joining in their wicked works or tasting any of their pleasures.

Susan: David makes the request of the Lord the He help him to remain pure and righteous before Him.

Susie: This reminds me of how Jesus instructed His disciples to pray in what is known as “The Lord’s Prayer.”

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Susie: He asked the Lord to keep him from even sampling tidbits of temptation.

Psalm 141:5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.

Susie: Sometimes a true friend must tell us the truth in love even though it hurts. It may momentarily feel like a slap in the face, but if we are wise we will realize. . .

Susan: . . . it was said out of kindness and sincere concern.

Ephesians 4:14-15 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Susie: The most faithful friends are honest with us in order to promote our spiritual welfare.

Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Susan: David prayed that he would have the wisdom to listen to godly counsel. This would not be hitting him with a personal attack, but instead would be a loving corrective measure to discipline and disciple him for the purpose of making him better. We do not use words to tear down, but to build up. We are not called to be a demolition crew but a restoration team.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Susie: Proverbs contains a warning for those who continually refuse to listen to a friend who corrects them:

Proverbs 29:1 (VOICE) The one who remains defiant after repeated reprimands will suddenly be shattered, and there will be no remedy for him.

Susie: David is praying for the overthrow of his enemies, for calamity to seize them.

Psalm 141:6 When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.

Susan: David prayed that His enemies meet with destruction.

Susie: He gives the example of seeing their leaders thrown off a cliff onto the rocks below.  Not that he says “when” not “if”. He is confident in God’s ability to win the battle for him.

Susan: After their defeat, the wicked would realize David’s words had been authentic, acceptable, and pleasing to the Lord. His words would reverberate in their ears reminding them they should have listened to him.

Psalm 141:7-8 Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth. But mine eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.

Susie: David says he and his men are about as able to win against this enemy as scattered bones are able to defend themselves. This also alludes to what some enemies did, denying the dead even a decent burial.

Susan: David realizes his army is deficient against this formidable foe. However, David’s true confidence is in the Lord alone and the Lord’s army.

Susie: David understood the truth that the battle belongs to the Lord.

Proverbs 21:31 (VOICE) No matter how well you arm for battle, victory is determined by Him.

Psalm 141:9-10 Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.

Susan: David asks that the Lord protect him from falling into the enemy’s trap. Instead he asks that the ungodly fall into it themselves.

Susie: In reading the history of Israel in the Old Testament, we see that God over and over protected them even to the point of having the enemies turn on each other in confusion. David knew God was able and willing to protect him and the nation of Israel. See Judges 7:19-25 and 2 Kings 7 for example.

QUESTIONS

1.               David prayed for urgent relief. Tell about a time you implored God to act immediately on your behalf.

2.               What did burning incense symbolize in Jewish worship?

3.               What did David ask the Lord to set a watch over?

4.               Psalm 141:4 might be a good prayer to start the day. Write it in your own words.

5.               Journal about a time someone spoke the truth in love to you or that you had to tell a difficult truth to a friend.

6.               What fate did David want for the wicked?