Psalms 140:1-13

PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE FROM MALICIOUS ENEMIES. To the chief musician, for performance in public worship, a psalm of David, in which he presents to the Lord the usual complaint, adding to this a fervent prayer and confident hope of relief.... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 140:2

which, that is, such people as a class, IMAGINE MISCHIEFS IN THEIR HEART, ever planning evil and wickedness; CONTINUALLY ARE THEY GATHERED TOGETHER FOR WAR, stirring up strife at every opportunity.... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 140:3

They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent, so that the sting of it is as deadly as that of a snake; ADDERS' POISON IS UNDER THEIR LIPS, to be poured into the wounds made by their fangs as they slander their victim. SELAH.... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 140:4

Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked, for they will not hesitate to vent their spite by outright acts of violence; PRESERVE ME FROM THE VIOLENT MAN, WHO HAVE PURPOSED TO OVERTHROW MY GOINGS, literally, "to upset my steps," either by tripping or by kicking, the figure picturing the malicious... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 140:5

The proud have hid a snare for me and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside, very near to the path which the believer must go, so that he will likely be caught; THEY HAVE SET GINS, traps and pitfalls, FOR ME. SELAH. Cf Psalms 10:7; Psalms 31:13; Psalms 58:4. With all this malice and mischief... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 140:6

I said unto the Lord, to Jehovah, the God of mercy, THOU ART MY GOD, the essence of true faith being expressed in the confident possessive "my," with which the believer defies all enemies; HEAR THE VOICE OF MY SUPPLICATIONS, O LORD, the appeal by which he places himself entirely into the care of his... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 140:7

O God the Lord, the All-powerful, THE STRENGTH OF MY SALVATION, the one Stronghold in which the believers are sure of deliverance, THOU HAST COVERED MY HEAD IN THE DAY OF BATTLE, literally, "in the day of armor," namely, when this is carried into battle; for it is then that the Lord is the Helmet of... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 140:8

Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked, by which he intends to destroy the believers; FURTHER NOT HIS WICKED DEVICE, so that his plans meet with success; (LEST) THEY EXALT THEMSELVES. SELAH.... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 140:9

As for the head of those that compass me about, if they lift up their heads to carry out their wicked plans, LET THE MISCHIEF OF THEIR OWN LIPS COVER THEM, that is, the trouble or suffering which they intend for others shall recoil upon their own heads, as a well-deserved punishment.... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 140:10

Let burning coals fall upon them, be cast upon them in perils of a terrible nature; LET THEM BE CAST INTO THE FIRE, into everlasting destruction; INTO DEEP PITS, abysses filled with water, THAT THEY RISE NOT UP AGAIN. The entire passage emphasizes the heinousness of the sin of slander and the severi... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 140:11

Let not an evil speaker, literally, "a man of tongue," one who steadily engages in slander, BE ESTABLISHED IN THE EARTH, be tolerated anywhere; EVIL SHALL HUNT THE VIOLENT MAN, who engages in such vicious practices, TO OVERTHROW HIM, overtaking him quickly and making an end of him. Once more, in con... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 140:12

I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, bringing it to a successful issue in spite of all attempts of the wicked, AND THE RIGHT OF THE POOR, because those who lack this world's goods are usually also without influence to fight malicious attacks.... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 140:13

Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto Thy name, for the deliverance which is bound to come; THE UPRIGHT SHALL DWELL IN THY PRESENCE, here in time, in the enjoyment of the means of grace, and hereafter in eternity, when they will be beyond the reach of malice and wickedness.... [ Continue Reading ]

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