Psalm 140

 #biblestudy #psalmsofdavid

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

Psalm 140 Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men;

    preserve me from violent men,

2 who plan evil things in their heart

    and stir up wars continually.

3 They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's,

    and under their lips is the venom of asps. 

***David recognizes:

i) God’s pending judgment of the wicked;

ii) His provision, through his Sacrifice✝️ 

(Genesis 3:15; 22:14)

iii) The need to hide in Him (Revelation 18:1-4) 

Because the evil has become so great.***

Selah

4 Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;

    preserve me from violent men,

    who have planned to trip up my feet.

(Matthew 6:13)

5 The arrogant have hidden a trap for me,

    and with cords they have spread a net;

    beside the way they have set snares for me. 

***It will be this way in the tribulation for the Elect - (predominately referring to the Jew, but also for any believer on the earth at this time) until the Lord Himself rides out from Heaven, and to the rescue.***

Selah

6 I say to the Lord, You are my God;

    give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord!

7 O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation,✝️

    you have covered my head in the day of battle (compare vs.10).

***David remembers his great deliverance and victory over Goliath and the Philistines in 1Samuel ch. 17…and many more since then!***

(Psalm 27:4-6) 

8 Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked;

    do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! 

Pride…the exaltation of man…is how this all started (Genesis ch. 3:4-6; ch. 11:1-9)

But…

This is how it will all end - Revelation ch. 18

(See also Proverbs 16:18)

Selah

9 As for the head of those who surround me,

    let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!

(Esther 7:9-10)

10 Let burning coals fall upon them!

Let them be cast into fire,

    into miry pits, no more to rise!

***”Burning coals” An picture of the surrendering to God, of all wrongs done and offense caused…also used by the Apostle Paul (Romans 12:17-20), who exhorts the reader to not repay evil for evil, but rather, entrust all vengeance to the Lord. 

To David (who at this point is all too aware of his own fallen state, and of the mercy shown to him by the Lord), keeping his hands and heart pure and blameless before a Holy God, takes precedence over everything else (Psalm 24:3-5)

In verse 7, we see another type of covering, over repentant David’s head…a covering of MERCY…a covering of the blood ✝️

And for us…when we have been convicted - and forgiven - of our OWN sin, and are walking humbly before God in our OWN hearts…only then, can we truly and righteousnessly cry out for God’s vengeance…Because only then will we see through the eyes of His heart***

11 Let not the slanderer be established in the land;

    let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

(Evil will eventually catch up with all who refuse to repent -  Revelation ch. 15; ch. 21:8)

12 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted,

    and will execute justice for the needy.

***At the end, The Lord Himself will fight for Israel.

Read:

Zechariah 14:1-11 (Matthew 24:9-22);

Revelation 19:11-21***

13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;

    the upright shall dwell in your presence.

***This is ultimately the only reason anyone will be persecuted- the righteous, who have chosen the Lord Jesus Christ - who cannot be marked for Satan, because they have been sealed for the Lord. In the end, there will be no middle ground…no fence to perch upon. (Mark9:38-41,50)***

#FollowingJesus #FindingJesus #KnowingJesus