Psalms 141

A psalm of David.

1 I call to you, LORD, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you.

2 May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

3 Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.

4 Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies.

5 Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

6 Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs, and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.

7 They will say, “As one plows and breaks up the earth, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of the grave.”

8 But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.

9 Keep me safe from the traps set by evildoers, from the snares they have laid for me.

10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.

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Psalms 141 Commentary

Chapter 141

David prays for God's acceptance and assistance. (1-4) That God would appear for his rescue. (5-10)

Verses 1-4 Make haste unto me. Those that know how to value God's gracious presence, will be the more fervent in their prayers. When presented through the sacrifice and intercession of the Saviour, they will be as acceptable to God as the daily sacrifices and burnings of incense were of old. Prayer is a spiritual sacrifice, it is the offering up the soul and its best affections. Good men know the evil of tongue sins. When enemies are provoking, we are in danger of speaking unadvisedly. While we live in an evil world, and have such evil hearts, we have need to pray that we may neither be drawn nor driven to do any thing sinful. Sinners pretend to find dainties in sin; but those that consider how soon sin will turn into bitterness, will dread such dainties, and pray to God to take them out of their sight, and by his grace to turn their hearts against them. Good men pray against the sweets of sin.

Verses 5-10 We should be ready to welcome the rebuke of our heavenly Father, and also the reproof of our brethren. It shall not break my head, if it may but help to break my heart: we must show that we take it kindly. Those who slighted the word of God before, will be glad of it when in affliction, for that opens the ear to instruction. When the world is bitter, the word is sweet. Let us lift our prayer unto God. Let us entreat him to rescue us from the snares of Satan, and of all the workers of iniquity. In language like this psalm, O Lord, would we entreat that our poor prayers should set forth our only hope, our only dependence on thee. Grant us thy grace, that we may be prepared for this employment, being clothed with thy righteousness, and having all the gifts of thy Spirit planted in our hearts.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Cross References 23

1. S Psalms 22:19; Psalms 70:5
2. S Psalms 4:1; Psalms 5:1-2; Psalms 27:7; Psalms 143:1
3. S Luke 1:9; Revelation 5:8; Revelation 8:3
4. S Psalms 28:2; Psalms 63:4; 1 Timothy 2:8
5. S Exodus 29:39,41; Exodus 30:8
6. S Psalms 34:13; James 1:26; James 3:8
7. S Psalms 12:2
8. S Joshua 24:23
9. S Psalms 106:29
10. Proverbs 23:1-3; Proverbs 23:6
11. Proverbs 9:8; Proverbs 19:25; Proverbs 25:12; Ecclesiastes 7:5
12. S Exodus 29:7; Psalms 23:5
13. S 2 Chronicles 25:12
14. Psalms 129:3
15. Numbers 16:32-33
16. S Numbers 16:30; Psalms 53:5
17. Psalms 123:2; Psalms 25:15
18. Psalms 2:12; Psalms 11:1
19. Psalms 140:4
20. S Psalms 64:5
21. S Psalms 38:12
22. Psalms 7:15; Psalms 35:8; Psalms 57:6
23. Psalms 124:7

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 141

\\<>\\. This psalm was written about the same time, and upon the same occasion, as that going before and what follows after; even when David was persecuted by Saul, and when he was in great danger of his enemies, and snares were laid for his life.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible