March 24
Reading: Psalm 140
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.
1 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.
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.
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.
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.
8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked;
do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted!
Selah
9 As for the head of those who surround me,
let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
10 Let burning coals fall upon them!
Let them be cast into fire,
into miry pits, no more to rise!
11 Let not the slanderer be established in the land;
let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!
12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
and will execute justice for the needy.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
the upright shall dwell in your presence.
Psalm 140 is another imprecatory psalm. James E. Adams has written a book on these psalms titled, War Psalms of the Prince of Peace: Lessons from the Imprecatory Psalms. The title itself communicates a helpful way to think about these psalms, that are sometimes difficult to read and filled with passionate cries for vengeance. We saw this recently in Psalms 137 and 139.
Verses 1-8 portray David’s opponents, who are certainly people, as plotting deviously, planning in their hearts, and speaking aloud their desires to destroy him. They speak poison to cause people to turn against him. They make traps for him. They plan wars against him. They have chosen the way that is not God’s way. They have chosen the Devil’s way. Another King of Israel said as much.
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:42-44
Because his assailants are attacking the rightful King of Israel, and because they are opposing him in unrighteous ways, King David is speaking God’s words describing them and asking for God to bring holy justice upon them. In the first eight verses you will find three personal requests to God from David.
- Deliver me from evil men. (vs. 1)
- Guard me from the hands of the wicked. (vs. 4)
- Grant not the desires of the wicked. (vs. 8)
In verses 9-13 David calls for judgment upon the wicked and vindication for the righteous. We pray this today as we look forward to the Lord’s victorious return. It is a great comfort to know that this world, with all its deception and evil, will someday have to answer for it all. This means, of course, that people will have to answer to God for their actions. We know that it is good that they will.