Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Ps 141:1 and following. Indeed, let’s never tire the Lord by turning to Him. On the contrary, a believer’s prayer is a pleasant fragrance for Him (verse 2; Revelation 5:6-10). Alas! our mouth is able to also bring out bitter words. For inhelping from above, no one is able to tame his tongue (James 3:5-12). “Put on, O Lord! a guard to my mouth, “asks here the man of God. However, it only translates what is bubbling in the heart (Ps 39:1-7). The latter also needs a vigilant “guard” so as not to be inclined to anything bad (verse 4). Finally, let us know how to regard reprehension not as a wound of self-love, but as a favor, an “excellent oil” reserved by the Lord for his own (verse 5; 2 Sam 16:5-12; Galatians 6:1).
Chased by Saul, David hid in the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1-5; Ps 57:1-12). He wanders with his companions “in the deserts and mountains, and the caves and holes of the earth” (Heb 11:32-40). Every human refuge is lost to Him (verse 4). But his faith allows him to cry out, “Eternal… you are my refuge” (verse 6). “The righteous will surround me…” (verse 8). Christ, the true David, will introduce with Him into His glory those whom He has clothed in His own righteousness. This psalm follows the previous one in a very appropriate way: The residue expresses a request: it wishes to be kept from any association, in word or deed, with the apostates of the previous psalm, on whom judgment will fall, because of their wickedness, (as the residue, in this psalm, asked and announced). The faithful desire to be guarded from all similar wickedness, even at the cost of the reproaches and reprehension of pious men. Then, as for the enemy, they refuse to take revenge on it themselves (like David in 1 Sam. 24:6, and Jesus in Matt. 26:51-52), but they leave it to the Lord Jehovah to avenge the wrongs done to them.
For verse 6 reminds us of 1 Sam. 24 and 26. Then, indeed, some judges and leaders of the people would have deserved to be thrown from the rocks and broken; but instead, they heard David talk to them about peace. Let us note a very remarkable detail related to v.5: David, in the intermediate chapter (25), had been taken up by the words of the righteous Abigail, words that were truly an excellent oil for his head, anointing him with a spirit of wisdom, and fear of the Lord, to divert him from the purpose of his heart (1 Sam. 25:30-34).
O Jehovah! I shouted at you. From such a way of praying, it is obvious that David was not working under a small trial, while he repeats his requests and insists on receiving help. Without daring to say anything specific on this point, we would not disapprove of the conjecture that this Psalm was written by David in reference to the persecutions he suffered from Saul. He teaches us by His example to make an immediate request to God, and not to be tempted, as wicked men are, to renounce prayer and rely on other resources. He says that he cried out to God, not to heaven or earth, to men or to fortune, and other vain objects, the ungodly of which mention, in the first place at least, in such cases. If they turn to God, it is with whispers and complaints, screaming rather than praying.
In the second verse, the reference is obviously to legal ceremonies. At that time, the prayers of God’s people were sanctified according to His own appointment through the offering of incense and sacrifices, and David depended on this promise. As for the conjecture that some have made, according to which he was at that time an exile, and cut off from the privileges of the religious assembly, nothing certain can be said on this point. But since there seems to be no reason to adopt this narrow meaning, it is enough to understand the general truth, that as these symbols taught the Lord’s people to consider their prayers equally acceptable to God with the sweetest and most excellent incense sacrifice, David obtained confirmation to his faith of the circumstance. Although the opinion of the fathers is not entirely limited to external ceremonies, David was obliged to avail himself of such aids. While he considered that it was not in vain that incense was burned daily on the altar by God’s commandment and that the evening offering was presented, he spoke of his prayers in connection with this ceremonial worship. The elevation of the hands, obviously means prayer, a gift, obscures and perverts the meaning of the psalmist. Like the word, which is the natural indication that prayer is signified, in allusion to the external action that is practiced there. And it is easy to assume that David repeats the same thing here as elsewhere twice.
Set a watch, O Lord! on my mouth. As David was likely to be hurt by the unbridled and thoughtless rage of his enemies, in order to be tempted to act in a way that might not be justifiable, he prayed for divine direction, not that he could be held back from manual violence simply, but that his tongue might be prevented from expressing reproaches or words of complaint. Even people with the most possessed temperament of themselves, if unjustly hurt, will sometimes retaliate, feeling the unseemly conduct of their enemies. David prays accordingly that his tongue will be prevented by the Lord from speaking a word that is not common. Then, he seeks to keep his heart away from any malicious device that could issue revenge. While their insolence in such a case becomes more presumptuous, even the Lord’s people risk being deceived by the prosperity they see enjoying and taking liberties themselves. David was therefore right to pray for the secret constraints of the Holy Spirit, so that he could not feast on their delights; that is, to be intoxicated by the license or sinful pleasure by something demeaning, flattering, or pleasurable in external circumstances.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
Lord, watch over my words:
- Raise your hands to pray and praise
Ps 134:2 Raise your hands to the sanctuary, and bless the Lord! Ps 141:2 May my prayer be before your face as incense, and the elevation of my hands as the evening offering! Ps 143:6 I stretch out my hands to you; My soul sighs after you, like a parched earth. Break. 1 Tim 2:8 So I want men to pray in every place, raising pure hands, without anger or evil thoughts.
- Divine constraints, exercised by the righteous
Ps 19:14 Preserve your servant also from the proud; Let them not dominate over me! Then I will be honest, innocent of great sins. Ps 141:3 Eternal, put a guard on my mouth, Watch over the door of my lips! Luke 11:4 forgive us of our sins, for we too forgive anyone who offends us; and do not induce ourselves into temptation. Jn 17:15 And now you, Father, glorify me to yourself for the glory I had with you before the world was.
- Fragility of man, general references
Ps 49:13 But the man who is in honor has no duration, He is like the beasts that are slaughtered. Ps 78:39 He remembered that they were only flesh, A breath that goes away and does not return. Ps 141:7 As when we plough and split the earth, so our bones are scattered at the entrance to the sojourn of the dead. 1 Pet 1:24 For all flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of grass. The grass dries, and the flower falls;
- See God
Ps 141:8 It is to you, Lord, Lord! that my eyes turn, It is to you that I seek refuge: Do not abandon my soul! Isa 6:5 Then I say, Woe to me! I am lost, for I am a man whose lips are impure, I dwell in the midst of a people whose lips are impure, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Isa 33:17 Your eyes will see the king in his magnificence, They will contemplate the land in all its extent. John 14:9 Jesus said to him: I have been with you for so long, and you have not known me, Philip! He who has seen me has seen the Father; how do you say: Show us the Father?
From all of the above, we note that throughout this period David was the martyr. He and his companions had in themselves the death sentence, so that they would have no confidence in themselves, but in the One who raises the dead. Yet the thought of the Spirit of Christ in this psalm goes beyond david’s sufferings; for the people of David were not put to death, as some of the faithful of Israel in the last days will be (see Ps. 79). So that this psalm still expresses the sighs of the Spirit of Christ in sympathy with them. However (as we can say, in fact, from all the other psalms) it can be in the mouth of any believer when circumstances and his state of mind lead him there. Just as well, any of us can “boldly,” with the holy boldness of faith, receive and make our own the words addressed to Moses (Deut. 31:6-8) and Joshua (Joshua. 1:5-6; Hebrews 13:5-6). What a warning to our souls in v.4! The wicked, against whom the Spirit of the Lord pleads through the mouth of the righteous, these wicked have their “delights”, subtle and attractive temptations, to seduce even the elect if possible. Instructed about Jehovah’s government, the faithful are attentive to His words and thoughts to be kept and blessed by Him. He accepts as a discipline to be struck by the just; he counts on the fulfillment of his requests; and even when the judgment rests on the proud (Israel), he sees this judgment as the means of making them hear the word of Jehovah. It is a Psalm, as David could have written when Saul pursued it. The faithful foresee the judgment of which the wicked will be struck, but he desires that the calamities serve to stop some of them. Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to react to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow ” The Lord, the last refuge of the persecuted (Ps 142).”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.