Psalms 140

Psalms 140:1-7

This pishm appears to have been penned during Saul’s persecution of David. In it, 1. David complains of the matter of his enemies, and prays to God to preserve him from them, ver. 1—2. 3. He unenough himself in God, as his God, ver. 6, 7. 3. He prays for, and prophesies the destruction of his persecutors, ver. 8—11. 4. He affirms all God’s afflicted people that their troubles remain on the time and well, ver. 12, 13.

To the chief musician, A pishm of David.

1. Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man. 2. Which tongue mischiefs in their heart; * continually are they gathered together for me. 3. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent: * adders poison is under their lips. Selah. 4. Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked, preserve me from the violent man, who have purposed to overthrow my goings. 5. The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords, they have spread a net by the way-fide; they have let go for me. 6. Selah. 6. I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD. 7. O God the LORD, the strength of my salvation; thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

The way to glory lies through much tribulation; thus David came to the throne of Israel, and we may expect to meet with our portion of temptation, to suffer for Christ, before we reign with him. We have here,

1. The Psalms’s complaints, many, mighty, and inveterate were his enemies; they were evil in their dispositions, and violent in their rage against him, crafty and mischievous, incessantly studying his ruin, and united in their confederacy against him, v. 2. With tongues of malignant venom they aforesaid his character, v. 3. Hardened in wickedness, they stuck at no violence; and with full purpose of heart, determined his destruction, v. 4. Proud, and confident of success, they laid their shares for him in all his paths, and expected quickly to see him their prey. Thus was Christ also bested with the malice and persecution of men, aforesaid by their envenomed tongues, and shares laid to destroy him; whilst Herod and Pilate, priceless and people, confederate against him, with excelsels enmity pursued him to the cross. Let none of his servants count it strange, if they meet with the like enmity, flanker, and opposition. The disciple is not above his matter.

2. His prayer and confidence in God. Deliver me from their hands, preserve me from their shares, keep me, for I cannot keep myself; Thou art my God, my rock, my refuge, on whom I depend, the strength of my salvation, able to save to the watermen, engaged to do it in that covenant that seals thee mine. Hear the voice of my supplications, and answer me in peace, according to the protection I have hitherto experienced; for thou hast covered my head in the day of battle, and waded off every mortal blow, aimed at me by my enraged foes. In the conflict with the powers of darkness, the Son of David thus offered up prayers and supplications, and was heard in the day of trouble, made triumphant in his resurrection, and his head exalted over all his foes. Should here also every believer’s warfare and strength, 1. His recourse is by prayer to God, for strengthening and upholding grace. 2. He is enabled to excelsels faith in God, as his God, and to find in him the strength of his salvation. 3. Thus is he protected in every dangerous conflict, and though his spiritual foes thrall fore at him, that he should fail, his head is covered, his soul preserved, and all his foes at last shall be made his foothold.

3. Grant, not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked, further not his wicked device, left they exalt themselves, to let Selah. 9. As for the head of those that compels me about, * let the mischief of their own lips cover them, 10. Let burning coals fall upon them, let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again. 11. Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him. 12. I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. 13. Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name, the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Psalms 140:8-13

However prevalent for a time the wicked may seem, their triumphing is but for a moment.

1. David prays for the disappointment of his enemies. Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked, further not his wicked devices, or let them not come forth: however deep laid, or eagerly pursued, disconcert the enterprise when ready to be carried into execution, least they exult themselves, and grow insolent with success.

2. He foresees their ruin approaching. For as let may be rendered shall, what appears a prayer may be translated as a prophecy; though that God should be glorified in the destruction of the obstinately impenitent, may, without any private enmity, be the subject of a believer’s prayer. Their outing and lies shall return upon their own heads, and their own mischief cover them with confusion, v. 9. The wrath of God shall fall on

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on them, as the fire that devoured the citiened Sodom; and, sunk into the pit of torment, they shall never die again from the everlasting burning; 6. 10. All lying tongues are but for a moment, and the gains of falsehood shall never be established in the earth: like a head of prey, and shall hunt the valiant man, still, at the last, destruction final and eternal shall ever-take him, v. 11. And this might be particularly levelled against Saul, or Doeg, but it is universally true of all the enemies of Christ and his people, whose end shall be, that they shall be rooted out at the last.

3. He expresses his confidence in God’s care over his own people. I know that the Lord will maintain the need of the afflicted; he had experienced this himself, and was sure it would be still the case, respecting his suffering-levants, whose innocence he would vindicate, and whose quarrel he would espouse; and the right of the poor, because such are liable to be oppressed; but God is the poor man’s friend, to do him that justice, which on earth may be denied him. Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto the man, acknowledging with gratitude his kind interposition on their behalf, and the upright shall dwell in the presence, as children under their father’s care protected and preferred, as servants in their master’s house, to with his orders, or as fights around his throne in glory, to follow him with their everlasting praises.