Psalm 140 — Prayer for Help
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
1 Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man;
Preserve me from the violent man:
2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart;
Continually do they gather themselves together for war.
3 They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent;
Adders' poison is under their lips. Selah
4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked;
Preserve me from the violent man:
Who have purposed to thrust aside my steps.
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
6 I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God:
Give ear unto the voice of my supplications, O LORD.
7 O GODthe Lord, the strength of my salvation,
Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked;
Further not his evil device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah
9 As for the head of those that compass me about,
Let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10 Let burning coals fall upon them:
Let them be cast into the fire;
Into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
11 An evil speaker shall not be established in the earth:
Evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
And the right of the needy.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name:
The upright shall dwell in thy presence.
David often writes psalms about the problems of enemies and evil ones.Their violence and plans for mischief and trouble seem to haunt all of his days. Indeed, the story of his life reveals regular encounters with cutthroats and conspirators. His description of theri evil reveals just how insidious these problems become: violence begets violence, plotters pull others in with their evil plans, poisonous words infect and kill, even long after the words are spoken. These are the proud ones who do and take as they will, assuming their will to be right.
David continually cries out in prayer and in psalm. These words are not mere teachings, they are the very petitions of one in need. In his fear, these words were given to God. We can give them, too. We can learn from them - and learn to pray with them.
The works of the wicked will return to take them in the end. David knows this and makes it a part of his prayer. Only a life of meekness and humility is heard by God. Our pride rejects and resists God; our humility welcomes him in as we reach out in prayer. Let us, by this psalm, learn right words of prayer, as well as the righteous humility with which to speak.