Psalms 140

To the chief Musician. A Psalm of David. There is no doubt (for the title ascribes it to him) but this Psalm was made by David. And it is little less undoubted that he composed it (as Theodoret well judges) when he was persecuted by Saul; who was instigated 2l12 [PSALM CXLI. thereunto by the calumnies of Doeg, and the information of the Ziphitcs: whose falseness and pestilent malice he here describes; beseeching God to preserve him from the mischief they intended him, and to turn it upon themselves: as he rests assured he would. When he came to his kingdom, and had settled the service of God in that manner, which we read 1 Chron. xvi.xxiii. &c. he delivered it to the master of the music; to bo sung at certain times in the tabernacle. But it was not found, I suppose (no more than the two foregoipg, and the four following), till some time after the other books of Psalms were published; and so were placed hero all together by him that collected this book.

Psalms 140:1

AJeLIVER me, O Lord, from the evil man: preserve me from theviqlent man. Defeat, O Lord, the wicked designs of that naughty man, (1 Sam. xxii. 9, &c.) who makes no conscience of what he saith or doeth to compass his ends: and let me not fall into the hands of that injurious prince, (xxiii. 7.) whom I have never wronged, but done him faithful service.

Psalms 140:2

Wliich imagine mischiefs in their heart: continualty are they gathered together for war. They are zealously bent to do me all the mischief they are able: which they studiously plot, and do nothing all the day but contrive how to oppress me with armed force; wliich in several places they have laid to intercept me.

Psalms 140:3

They liave sharpened their tongues like a serpent: adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah. And they have so traduced me by their calumnies and false accusations, that they have already given my reputation a deadly wound: for (he tongue of the serpent, or the teeth of the adder or viper, do not mQre effectually convey their poison into men’s bodies, than they have infused these venomous slanders into the people s minds.’..

Psalms 140:4

Keep me, O Lord, from tJie hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man, ivho have pmposed to overthrow my goings.) And therefore I most humbly again beseech thee, O Lord, to keep me from falling into the power of that naughty man, (ver. 1.) who instigates his prince, to the most injurious proceedings against me: be thou my preserver, O Lord; for otherwise I shall never escape the trains they have devised and laid, to supplant and utterly undo me.

Psalms 140:5

The proud, have hid a snare for me, and cords: they have spread a net by the way-side: they have set gins for me. Selah. ‘There is no hunter or fowler more industrious and cunning in laying snares, and toils, in spreading net£,.or setting gins and traps, for the beasts or the birds in the places which they are wont to frequent; than they are to trace me in all my motions, (1 Sam. xxii. 23.). and to invent all manner of wiles and subtle arts to surprise me: which they proudly presume will have their desiredsuccess. Ver. G. J said unto the Lord, Thou art my Gfod: hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord.] To which I have neither cunning nor power of my, own to oppose, no friend whose aid I can implore; but only commend myself unto the Lord, saying, I have always owned thee for my protector, and thou hast hitherto owned me, and been my merciful deliverer: do notnow, O Lord of all power and. might, deny my earnest request; who depend on thefc alone for succour.

Psalms 140:7

O God the Lord > the strength of my salvation; thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. O most mighty Lord, whom no creature whatsoever can withstand; thou who disposcst of all events; I again profess, that I look for safety from thy almighty power alone: by which 1 was protected (having no other helmet or armour, but only that, 1 Sam. xvii. 39, 40. 50.) in the day when I fought with Goliath.

Psalms 140:8

Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; further not his wicked device, lest they exalt themselves. * Selah. Suffer not him, O most mighty Lord, who now seeks my destruction, to effect his desire; let him not succeed in any of his mischievous designs and projects against me: lest he and his partakers grow so insolent, as to dare to attempt all manner of violence against other innocents.

Psalms 140:9

As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lij)$ cover them. Let the poisonous and pernicious calumnies of those that now beset me round retort upon themselves; and let them be overwhelmed by those very devices, which with laborious lies they have contrived for my ruin.

Psalms 140:10

Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again. Let their slanders (which I can compare to nothing better than burning coals, that are not easily quenched) be the instruments of their own destruction: let them perish in the flames which they themselves have kindled; and be irrecoverably thrown headlong into those dangers and mischiefs which, like dreadful deep pits, they prepared for my destruction. Vex. 11. Let not an evil speaker be, established in the earth: evil shallhunt the violent man to overthrow him.] This I am confident shall be their portion; for though a false informer may for a time be believed, and thrive by his lies and slanders, yet truth mil at last prevail; and not suffer him to establish his greatness by such base and wicked practices,: and as little shall violence and injustice avail him that relies upon them; but bring upon him one evil after another, which shall pursue him to his ruin; as the hounds do the wild beast, which, after all its windings and turnings, becomes a prey unto them.

Psalms 140:12

I know that the Lord Will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor. For I am sure the Lord, who is stronger than all, will assert the cause of the oppressed: and do right to those who are destitute of human help, by punishing all that are injuriousto them.

Psalms 140:13

Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name; the upright shall dwell in, thy presence. Let the righteous rely on. this as an undoubted truth, that they shall give thanks to thy almighty goodness, for appearing in their vindication; and, when these false and violent men shall be extinct, they that are sincerely honest shall remain in thy favour; and receive the marks of it in thy constant care and providence over them.