PSALM 141
Emergency prayer verse 1- 2
LORD – I cry to YOU – make haste to me
give ear unto my voice – when I cry to YOU
Let my prayer be set forth before YOU as incense
and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice
Language can be an avenue of sin verse 3- 4
Set a watch – O LORD – before my mouth
keep the door of my lips
Incline not my heart to any evil thing
to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity
and let me not eat of their dainties
Reprove may be necessary verse 5
Let the righteous smite me it shall be a kindness
and let him reprove me
it shall be an excellent oil
which shall not break my head
for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities
Words need to be sweet verse 6- 7
When their judges are overthrown in stony places
they shall hear my words – for they are sweet
Our bones are scattered at the grave’s mouth
as when one cut and cleave wood upon the earth
Eyes need to stay on LORD verse 8- 10
But mine eyes are to YOU – O GOD the Lord
in YOU is my trust
leave not my soul destitute
Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me
and the gins of the workers of iniquity
Let the wicked fall into their own nets – whilst that I withal escape
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 LORD, I cry to YOU: make haste to me, give ear to my voice, when I cry to YOU. (7121 “cry” [qara’] means to call, to shout, summon, proclaim, call, cry out, cried, utter a oud sound, or to have recourse to or make an appeal or request for help or information to.)
DEVOTION: Whenever the enemy caused trouble we find that the word of God tells us to call to the LORD. Trouble is going to come to all believers because the enemy is real and he has many people who want to give those who genuinely follow the LORD a hard time.
Too often we think that the Christian life is supposed to be easy but in reality, we should expect people to give us a hard time if we are going to be good witnesses for the LORD. The world doesn’t want to hear our message of salvation because they fell they don’t need it.
Our responsibility is to go to the LORD will all our concerns and wait on HIM to give us answers regarding what we should do about them. Too often we can react too fast and that is not good but a good response can cause the name of the LORD to be honored.
One of the things we have to watch in our reaction is our tongue because we can say things that we regret later. If we hold our tongue and let the LORD gives us the right words to say or we say nothing per HIS instructions through the Holy Spirit it is always a better response than we can give because of our anger.
God knows that temptations come and we have to wait on HIM regarding how to handle them. HE will give us the strength to face any criticisms. It is hard to say nothing but sometimes that is the answer the LORD gives us.
CHALLENGE: God knows what we go through each day of our life and if we are dependent on HIM HE will give us the answers we need at the moment.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. (8108 “watch” [sheth] means guard or watchfulness.)
DEVOTION: Our words make a difference to those around us. Our words can hurt or encourage. Our vocabulary is very important. There are words that should not be in the speech of those who claim to be believers.
David realized how important his language is if he wants to glorify the LORD. He knew many individuals who used bad language. He even knew the words they were using were not something that should come out of his mouth. He asked the LORD go guard each word that came out of his mouth. His desire was that no cursing or swearing would come out of his lips. He asked the LORD to close his lips if inappropriate words were about to come out of them.
Our world has many individuals around us that are not believers. From a young age we can hear parents or relatives or friends who use words that should not come out of anyone’s mouth. It is hard to unlearn words we hear because our brain keeps them from an early age until we die.
When I worked in a nursing home there were retired ministers who used fowl language that their families stated they had never used when they were in their right mind. Their problem was that they heard the words and with the help of the Holy Spirit and their own personal desire to honor the LORD they didn’t use the words. As they aged their guard was down and the words come out.
We had a group of teens that attended our church softball games that tried to teach our youngest son to swear while we were busy on the field. They thought it was cute to have a young boy under the age of five say words they knew were not right for a pastor’s son to say.
I have observed many who claim Christ get angry and use words that didn’t honor their testimony or the LORD. It is hard to break a habit but it can be done with the help of the Holy Spirit. Those individual only have to ask the LORD for help with their control of their lips. Ask the LORD not to let any words come out of their mouth that doesn’t honor the LORD and HE will honor that prayer.
CHALLENGE: If this is a problem area, ask the LORD for help. David did and the LORD honored his request. HE will honor yours.
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: 4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties. (4516 “dainties” [man’am] means delicacies, consume food, be consumed or food that is considered very fine and luxurious.)
DEVOTION: Are we every tempted to eat more than we should? Do some foods look better than others? There are times when the things that those outside of Christ look good to us and we would like to practice them. It seems like those who don’t love the LORD can do things and never suffer the consequence of their actions. It doesn’t seem fair that we can’t do them too.
David is praying again to the LORD for help. He wants the LORD to not let him give in to the temptations of the wicked. He would rather have the reprove of the righteous than to give in to the wicked.
He knows the end of their life. He knows they are walking in the wrong direction. The enticements of the life of the world are great. They seem to have the best of everything. They have the best of foods. Here the psalmist asks the LORD not to let him be enticed by the delicacies of the wicked. They look good but once he is hooked – he is part of their world.
Moses is said to have chosen the LORD over all the riches of Egypt. We have chooses to make each day. What is more important to us – the riches and goods of the world or a life with Christ? Does that mean that everyone who is rich is evil? NO!!! Some people can handle riches and live for Christ – most cannot. “Chose ye this day whom you will serve.” Remember our enemy, the devil, does not want us to walk the way of the LORD. He wants to put people/things in our world to lead us away from the LORD. We know that it would be wrong but it sometimes look so right. It is one of the fiery darts of the wicked one. Once we are hit, we have to ask forgiveness and turn around again and follow the LORD. The repentance is never easy.
CHALLENGE: The enemy will put some tempting things in our path. Learn to walk around them. Help others to do the same.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 5 “Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). (Righteous – 6662 צַדִּיק [tsaddiyq /tsad·deek/] adj. From 6663; TWOT 1879c; GK 7404; 206 occurrences; AV translates as “righteous” 162 times, “just” 42 times, “righteous man” once, and “lawful” once. 1 just, lawful, righteous. 1A just, righteous (in government). 1B just, right (in one’s cause). 1C just, righteous (in conduct and character). 1D righteous (as justified and vindicated by God). 1E right, correct, lawful. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001).
DEVOTION: Not many of us enjoy being rebuked or slapped. It often makes us angry or ashamed depending on the circumstances. Yet the psalmist is asking for the righteous to do just that, to allow a righteous man to discipline him. The rebukes would be like anointing oil and refreshing breezes after a hot, arid day. Do you have a person that can speak into your heart and say the hard things that need to be spoken? Someone who is willing to speak truth even when it hurts and causes pain in your heart? The psalmist is anticipating a person doing just such a thing so it will create a refreshing end to his day! A mentor or spiritual friend is someone who cares enough about your growth in Christ to speak the truth as needed. May we have more people like this in our churches!
CHALLENGE: If all you have around you are people who agree with you then go find someone who will tell you the truth about your spiritual life. Beware, it might hurt initially but will be well worth it in the end! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Prayer for strength to resist dainties of wicked verse 1- 10
Cry verse 1
Make haste verse 1
Give ear verse 1
Cry verse 1
Prayer verse 2
Incense verse 2
Lifting up my hands verse 2
Prayer verse 5
Leave not my soul destitute verse 8
Keep me from the snares verse 9
Keep me from the gins of the workers of iniquity verse 9
Let the wicked fall into their own nets verse 10
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Incense verse 2
Evening sacrifice verse 2
Excellent oil verse 5
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 3
Set a watch verse 3
GOD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 8
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master) verse 8
GOD the Lord verse 8
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Wicked fall into their own nets verse 10
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Evil verse 4
Heart inclined to evil things verse 4
Practice wicked works verse 4, 10
Iniquity verse 4, 9
Enjoying dainties of wicked verse 4
Calamities verse 5
Corrupt judges verse 6
Lay snares for believers verse 9
Traps of the workers of iniquity verse 9
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Prayer verse 1, 2, 5
Lifting up of hands verse 2
Controlled mouth and lips verse 3
Righteous verse 5
Reproved verse 5
Sweet words verse 6
Focus on the LORD verse 8
Trust verse 8
Escape from traps of wicked verse 10
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Bones scattered at graves mouth verse 7
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QUOTES regarding passage
Psalm 141. No compromise
There is a Puritan vigour and single-mindedness about this psalm to put one in mind of Christian and Faithful at Vanity Fair, whose prayer was ‘Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity’, and whose reply to the challenge ‘What will you buy?’ was ‘We buy the truth’. The colourful Hebrew of the middle verses is difficult, but the thrust of the psalm is plain: a prayer against insincerity and compromise, and a plea for survival under the savage attacks which such an attitude has invited. ….
To eat of their dainties implied a much closer bond of friendship than it necessarily would in our society. The New Testament recounts some of the problems this created for traditionalists and externalists, and shows how the gospel brought a new approach to the matter (e.g. Mark 2:16f.). But David’s fears were for his loyalty; and the threat to this was real enough. C. S. Lewis describes its equivalent with his usual penetration: ‘There is a subtle play of looks and tones and laughs by which a mortal can imply that he is of the same party as those to whom he is speaking … He will assume, at first only by his manner, but presently by his words, all sorts of cynical and sceptical attitudes which are not really his. But … they may become his. All mortals tend to turn into the thing they are pretending to be.’ (Kidner, D. (1975). Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 16, p. 506). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press)
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3–4 The profligacy of evil is part of the existential situation. Evil is all around and temptations abound. The poet prays that he may be kept from evil. Evil comes in many forms: the sins of speech (v. 3), of the heart (v. 4), and of action. He asks the Lord to help him in his struggle with temptation (“set a guard … keep watch”). The “heart … is the wellspring of life” (Prov 4:23). The wise man carefully watches his heart, lest he succumb to sins of speech or action (see appendix to Ps 1: The Ways of Wisdom and Folly). Speech is an indicator of one’s relationship to the Lord (cf. 34:13; 39:1; Prov 13:3; 21:23; James 3:1–12). The wicked use their tongues destructively (cf. 140:3), whereas the speech of the righteous expresses love and fidelity (cf. 15:2–3). When harassed the wise man trusts in the Lord to guard “over the door” of his lips (v. 3; cf. Mic 7:5). By his assistance one may keep his heart from sin and temptation (“let not my heart be drawn”) in order to do God’s will (119:10, 36, 133).
Temptation to do evil was also real. The tempters were men of influence. The word “men” (ʾîšîm, v. 4) denotes men of land, rank, and status within the community. However, these members of the aristocracy were nevertheless “evildoers” who practiced “wicked deeds” (cf. 28:3). Their riches permitted them the enjoyment of the finer things in life (“delicacies”; cf. Prov 4:17). Removal of oneself from their influence and from the enjoyment of their material benefits was the second step away from temptation; dependency on the Lord was the first. (VanGemeren, W. A. (1991). Psalms. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5, p. 847). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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141:1–2. David, comparing his prayer to the evening oblation at the sanctuary, called on the Lord to answer him quickly (cf. comments on 31:2). He wanted his prayer to be a sweet aroma to the Lord, similar to the incense in the evening sacrifice (around 3 p.m.) which would ascend and please the Lord. In the Book of Revelation incense appropriately pictured prayer (Rev. 5:8; 8:3–4). Lifting up his hands as a gesture in prayer is also mentioned in Psalms 28:2; 63:4; 134:2. (Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 893). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Whenever the enemy caused trouble, David’s first response was to pray. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (27:1, nkjv). He was a man with spiritual insight who understood that he could pray and worship God even if he was away from the sanctuary and had no priest to assist him (40:6–8; 50:8–9; 51:16–17; Isa. 1:11–17; Jer. 7:22–23; Hos. 6:6; Mic. 6:6–8; Mark 12:32–33). Each evening, the Jewish priest would offer a burnt offering on the brazen altar and also burn incense on the golden altar, but God accepted David’s prayer and uplifted hands. Frankincense was usually included with the burnt offering. (See Ex. 30:1–10, 34–38; Lev. 2:2.) Incense is a picture of prayer going up to the Lord (Rev. 5:8; 8:4). David’s hands were empty but his heart was full of love for the Lord and faith in His promises. Both Ezra (Ezra 9) and Daniel (Dan. 9) prayed at the time of the evening offering. After the second temple was built, this psalm was read when the evening sacrifices were offered and the lamps were lit in the holy place. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be exultant (1st ed., pp. 200–201). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)
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Ver. 2. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense, &c.] Which was offered every morning on the altar of incense, at which time the people were praying, Exod. 30:1, 7, 8; Luke 1:10 and was an emblem of it, even of pure, holy, and fervent prayer; which being offered on the altar Christ, which sanctifies every gift, and by him the High-priest; through whom every sacrifice is acceptable unto God; and through whose blood and righteousness, and the sweet incense of his mediation and intercession, it becomes fragrant and a sweet odour to the Lord; and being directed to him, it goes upwards, is regarded by him, and continues before him as sweet incense; which is what the psalmist prays for; see Mal. 1:11; Rev. 8:3, 4. And the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice; the burnt-sacrifice of the evening, according to Ben Melech, the lamb slain every evening; or else the minchah, as the word is; the meat, or rather the bread-offering made of fine flour, with oil and frankincense on it, which went along with the former, Exod. 29:38–41 and so the Targum, “as the sweet gift offered in the evening.” This only is mentioned, as being put for both the morning and the evening sacrifice; or because the incense was offered in the morning, from which it is distinguished or it may be, as Kimchi thinks, this psalm was composed in the evening; and so the inscription in the Syriac version is, “a psalm of David, when he meditated the evening-service.” Or because this was the last sacrifice of the day; there was no other after it, as Aben Ezra observes; and the most acceptable; to which may be added, that this was the hour for prayer, Acts 3:1 and 10:3. Wherefore lifting up of the hands was a prayer-gesture, and a very ancient one both among Jews and Gentiles; Aristotley says, all men, when we pray, lift up our hands to heaven; and it is put for that itself, 1 Tim. 2:8 and is desired to be, like that, acceptable unto God; as it is when the heart is lifted up with the hands, and prayer is made in the name and faith of Christ. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 4, p. 294). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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2. “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense.” As incense is carefully prepared, kindled with holy fire, and devoutly presented unto God, so let my prayer be. We are not to look upon prayer as easy work requiring no thought, it needs to be “set forth”; what is more, it must be set forth “before the Lord,” by a sense of his presence and a holy reverence for his name: neither may we regard all supplication as certain of divine acceptance, it needs to be set forth before the Lord “as incense,” concerning the offering of which there were rules to be observed, otherwise it would be rejected of God. “And the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” Whatever form his prayer might take his one desire was that it might be accepted of God. Prayer is sometimes presented without words by the very motions of our bodies: bended knees and lifted hands are the tokens of earnest, expectant prayer. Certainly work, or the lifting up of the hands in labour, is prayer if it be done in dependence upon God and for his glory: there is a hand-prayer as well as a heart-prayer, and our desire is that this may be sweet unto the Lord as the sacrifice of eventide. Holy hope, the lifting up of hands that hang down, is also a kind of worship: may it ever be acceptable with God. The Psalmist makes a bold request: he would have his humble cries and prayers to be as much regarded of the Lord as the appointed morning and evening sacrifices of the holy place. Yet the prayer is by no means too bold, for, after all, the spiritual is in the Lord’s esteem higher than the ceremonial, and the calves of the lips are a truer sacrifice than the calves of the stall. (Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 120-150 (Vol. 6, pp. 307–308). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers)
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141:6 judges … thrown down. That the leaders of the wicked would be punished by being thrown over a cliff (cf. Lk 4:28, 29) is at the heart of David’s prayer (cf. v. 5). my words … pleasant. In the sense that David’s words were true. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Ps 141:6). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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Our daily devotional time is not a marathon in which we try to read a given number of verses each day. There are times when I find myself lingering over one verse and discovering truths in it I never saw before. God’s Word is our food (4:4) and we must chew it carefully, not gulp it down. (p. 181 Jesus in the present Tense, Warren Wiersbe)
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All men are dead in sin, but by grace through faith in Christ they may be saved from sin.
INSIGHT
Two of the most wonderful words in the Bible occur in this chapter: “But God . . .” We were dead in our transgressions and sins; we followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the spirit of disobedience; we lived to gratify the cravings of our sinful natures; and we were by nature objects of wrath. BUT GOD, because of His great love for us, made us alive with Christ. We have been saved; God has raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms, that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
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God’s Final Word
“The Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.” (Zechariah 14:9)
God cannot be defeated in His creative purpose for this earth and its people. In the beginning, there was only God. In the ending, there will be one Lord, and His name one.
In the meantime, He is working out His great plan of reconciliation, as revealed in His Word. In the magnificent book of Revelation, especially the last two chapters, we are carried forward in the Spirit into the never-ending glories of the renewed earth, with the great Creator and Redeemer dwelling there with His people eternally.
But in that final chapter, there are some final words from the Lord to guide and warn us until He returns. There is one final invitation, for example: “And let him that is athirst come” (Revelation 22:17). Then there is a final warning. This completed book of Scripture contains all that man will ever need to know concerning salvation, the Christian life, and God’s great plans, so let no man “add unto these things,” or “take away from the words of the book of this prophecy” (vv. 18-19). There is no salvation, except through His Word.
Next, there is a final promise. “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly” (v. 20). Of all the promises of God, there is none more “exceeding great and precious” than this (2 Peter 1:4). In response, there is a final prayer, teaching us that this should be the climax of every believing prayer: “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (v. 20). This is our greatest need!
Lastly, there is a final benediction, the same as the close of each of Paul’s epistles, and the most wonderful of all the words of a holy, yet loving, Creator, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (v. 21). It is fitting that God’s Word, which began with His creation, should end with His saving grace! (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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A New Legacy
This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. JOSHUA 1:8
As a people, we are healthier but not happier. We are drenched in knowledge but parched for wisdom. Materially we are wealthy, but we suffer a profound poverty of the soul. The longer I live, the more I see that our nation needs a spiritual reformation in its inner spirit.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in the state of the family. The biblical values that built our great nation—once passed on from each generation to the next as a national treasure—are being questioned and dismissed. As a result, never before have we seen such deterioration in our homes:
Never before have so many children grown up in broken homes.
Never before has the definition of marriage been altered to allow for two people of the same sex.
Never before has the marriage covenant been viewed with such contempt by a generation of young people.
Never before have parents been ridiculed for seeking to raise children with biblical values.
Never before have so many Christians laughed, shrugged their shoulders or did nothing about adultery, divorce and sin.
Never before has materialism been so flagrantly embraced over relationships.
Never before has the family been in such need of a new legacy.
The pivotal national issue today is not crime; neither is it welfare, health care, education, politics, the economy, the media or the environment. The pivotal issue today is the spiritual and moral condition of individual men and women, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, and families.
Nations are never changed until people are changed. The true hope for genuine change in the heart lies only in the life-changing power of Jesus Christ.
Through Him, lives can be rebuilt. Through Him, families can be reformed. (Moments with You Couples Devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)
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