Blessings to you my friend on this Monday! During this coming week, let us seek the LORD and look for opportunities to build His Kingdom.
Read Psalm 141. Selah.
This psalm begins with a strong and direct cry to the LORD. David is emphatic – he needs God to hear his heartfelt appeal, because this is a psalm of introspection. David judges that being “inwardly clean” before the LORD is so vitally important that he petitions Him with words of sacrifice (vv 2): “Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”. Brothers, we would do well to remember David’s approach when we bring an important matter before the LORD – let us enter into his presence with a sacrifice (of praise, of thanksgiving, of posture).
Next, the psalmist asks for the LORD’s help in disciplining his mouth, his lips, his words. David realizes that ill-spoken words can lead to evil pervading other areas of his life. Proverbs 21:23 says it this way: “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.”
Then, in vv 4, the writer requests the LORD’s help in keeping his heart from evil and for protection from men who practice wickedness and work iniquity. Brother, as the world continues its descent into lawlessness and immortality, we would do well to make this specific petition of David a part of our own prayer lives. Let us regularly ask our LORD to “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51).
In vv 5, David acknowledges that correction from a righteous man is a good thing. Friend, let us always be willing to receive counsel, correction and instruction from a righteous brother without taking offense; knowing that our LORD has placed us in community with other Believers for our growth and for our good and for our protection. Hebrews 3 says “but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”; and Proverbs 3 tells us “As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”. Similarly, let each of us be prepared to approach a brother who is in need of exhortation, bringing correction (fearlessly, but with love and grace) if correction is needed.
Finally, David closes out the Psalm with an interesting series of contrasting petitions (vv 8-10): “But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord; In You I take refuge; Do not leave my soul destitute. Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, And from the traps of the workers of iniquity. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, While I escape safely.”. As we examine these verses, it is clear that our escape (our safety, our freedom, our salvation, our deliverance) from the traps and the snares placed by the wicked comes when we fix our eyes on the LORD Almighty. Micah 7 encourages us in this: “Therefore I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me.”.
LORD, I enter into Your presence with a sacrifice of praise. Help me today to speak words of blessing and edification and truth; examine my heart and renew my spirit; and help me to keep my eyes fixed only on You. Deliver me from all wickedness and evil, LORD, for You are my refuge! Amen!
