Psalms 140

Psalms 140:1-13

Confidence in God’ s Protection Psalms 140:1-13 Here is a picture of a man who is beset by foes. Around are slander and hatred; at his feet stratagems and traps. There is no help save in Him who alone can cover the head in the day of battle. Similar experiences befall God’ s people still. Some are hunted by earthly enemies; others are stung by the fiery darts of the wicked. In Psalms 140:1-5 life is like a path through a forest, where adders hide and where gins are laid. At any moment the foe may break from his ambush. In Psalms 140:6-7 faith discovers God, at such a time, as strength, salvation, and protection. There follows, in Psalms 140:8-12, a terrible outburst. Instead of the let of the imperative, many read the shall of prediction. We belong to the kingdom of Christ, the teachings of which are given in Matthew 5:1-48. The only coals of fire that we can deal with are those of love and mercy, which we heap on the heads of our enemies. The least in the kingdom of love stands on a higher plane than the greatest in the kingdom of law. But let the wicked remember Romans 2:5. The psalm ends in a gladder strain, Psalms 140:13. There is an inner sanctuary where we shall be safe!

Thou art my God! The tone of this Psalm corresponds with the inscription and attests its Davidic origin. It perhaps dates from those early troubled days at court, when his steps were taken with difficulty, because of the gins and snares that lined his pathway.

The Psalm consists of five verses as the beginning and five as the conclusion. In the middle occurs a strophe of three verses, the heart of the Psalm, distinguished by the fourfold use of the name Jehovah.

Psalms 140:1. Deliver me from the evil man We pray “Deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13, R.V.).

Psalms 140:2. Gathered together: as Psalms 56:6; Psalms 59:3.

Psalms 140:3. Adders’ poison under their lips Who can describe the mischief caused by a false and slanderous tongue? See also Psalms 58:4; Romans 3:13-14.

Psalms 140:4. Keep me, O Lord!A good prayer for all times (Psalms 17:8; Psalms 25:20).

Psalms 140:5. A snare for me, and cords We have every reason to be afraid of Satan who adds cunning to his malice. He is not content with hidden assaults, but weaves insidious toils, which may take months to mature—in order to do us harm and grieve our Master, Christ, wounding Him through us.

Psalms 140:6. Thou art my God! The first portion of the verse corresponds with Psalms 31:14. If He is ours and we are his, we may have confidence that He will “hear the voice of our supplications.”

Psalms 140:7. Thou hast covered; Thou dost cover; Thou wilt cover Such is the force of the tense used here (as in Psalms 5:11; Psalms 139:13). As we go down into the fight, let us never forget that helmet of salvation provided for us by the Lord Himself (Ephesians 6:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:8). What a contrast to the “head” of the wicked! (Psalms 140:9).

Psalms 140:9. Mischief of their lips Slander is like a man starting an avalanche, which ultimately overwhelms and covers his own dwelling (Psalms 7:15-16).

Psalms 140:10-11. Burning coals We have not so learned Christ (Romans 12:20). We must endorse the Psalmist’s confidence that evil cannot ultimately prevail in God’s world. However great may be the momentary triumph of the wicked, they are destined to utter and disastrous downfall.

Psalms 140:12. The Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted (Psalms 9:12; Psalms 18:27; Zephaniah 3:19).

Psalms 140:13. Shall give thanks Not only hereafter, but here and now, do those who love and serve God walk and live in the manifested light of God’s presence (Psalms 16:11; Ephesians 5:20).