Psalm 141

Read Psalm 141

“O Lord, I call upon You; hasten to me!” David cried out to God for help. He asked the Lord to hear his personal prayers with the same weight that Jehovah would have given to the petitions of Israel that accompanied the daily sacrifices offered up by the appointed priests.

What was David's great need? “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth.” David wanted help from on high so that he would not sin with his lips. “Do not let my heart incline to any evil.” He wanted his God to direct his soul toward holiness and away from anything that might displease his Maker. He asked the Lord to keep him from desiring the approval of ungodly people. “Let me not eat of their delicacies!”

David needed to stay spiritually strong. He had to be able to quickly distinguish between the correction that he might receive from truly holy friends and the false wisdom that could come from high-placed unrighteous judges. The former had important words that might sting at first hearing. The latter brought smooth messages that would only lead those who received them into deep waters of sin.

The king knew that his God would judge the hearts of all mankind. His only safe refuge was in His holy God. The “snares of evildoers” were not going to be his destiny. “Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.”

We who have been cleansed by the blood of Christ would do well to sing these important words of David as our sincere petition to the Lord. We were not saved by God for the purpose of continuing in sin. We want the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit. We need to ask our God to keep us from slick advisers who would only turn us away from the Lord.

Prayer from A Book of Prayers

Father God, there is great help for us when we remember to call upon Your Name. You can tame our tongues and calm our restless hearts. You can turn away our foolish gluttony and covetousness. You can give us words of wisdom that are appropriate for every occasion. Our sin would be our downfall, but You protect Your people from the traps of the evil one, and bring us to a place of perfect safety.