Psalm 140
1 Deliver me, O Lord, from evildoers; protect me from those who are violent,
2 who plan evil things in their minds and stir up wars continually.
3 They make their tongue sharp as a snake’s,
and under their lips is the venom of vipers.
4 Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
protect me from the violent who have planned my downfall.
5 The arrogant have hidden a trap for me,
and with cords they have spread a net, along the road they have set snares for me.
6 I say to the Lord, “You are my God; give ear, O Lord,
to the voice of my supplications.”
7 O Lord, my Lord, my strong deliverer,
you have covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot.
9 Those who surround me lift up their heads;
let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
10 Let burning coals fall on them! Let them be flung into pits, no more to rise!
11 Do not let the slanderer be established in the land;
let evil speedily hunt down the violent!
12 I know that the Lord maintains the cause of the needy,
and executes justice for the poor.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
the upright shall live in your presence.
Psalm 140 is ordinarily characterized as a prayer for help or individual lament. The psalm is written to express frustration and to call out to God and to ask for help. This psalm (and many other psalms) are written using a chiastic structure (click here to read more Chiastic explanation). The effect is to focus attention toward the center of the psalm. In this psalm we see the following chiastic structure:
Verse 1: ”evil”, “violent”
Verse 3: ”lips”
Verse 4: ”wicked”
Verse 8: “wicked”
Verse 9: ”lips”
Verse 11: ”evil”, “violent”
The opening petitions found in Psalm 140 are typical of the “prayer for help” psalms. Verses 1-5 list the things that the psalmist wants to be delivered from. What are some of the areas of your life or people in your life that you would like to be delivered from?
As I think about my own journey in these days, this is my personal version of verses 1-5: ”Deliver me, O Lord, from distractions; protect me from those who try to manipulate me, who don’t realize they are wanting control of me but act in ways that hurt me. They speak without thinking and I listen without thinking. Guard me, O Lord, from those that want to harm me, protect me from those that distract me from hearing you.” Write your own version of verses 1-5 as they apply to your life.
While it would appear from verses 1-5 that the violent are in control, the psalmist affirms in the central section of the psalm (verses 6-7) that God is sovereign. The chiastic structure is used in this passage to point to verses 6-7 and the reminders those verses provide that God is in control.
Read Verses 8-11. When read on their own, these verses, seem to present a selfish and unloving prayer. It can seem “unchristian” to pray a prayer like we see in verse 10, “Let burning coals fall on them! Let them be flung into pits, no more to rise!” What do you think these verses mean?
It is important to know that the petitions in verses 8-11 are not about personal revenge but are instead focused on justice for the victimized. This prayer is intended to be used to pray for those who have been oppressed and victimized. Read verse 12, “I know that the Lord maintains the cause of the needy, and executes justice for the poor.” These verses are about God’s care for these people and how we too are called to care for those who have been victimized and those who are not being treated justly.
Because we follow a God who cares about justice and healing for the victimized we are called to care about the same things. Evil, injustice, and oppression must be confronted, opposed, and even hated because God hates them.
Spend some time praying for those who are victimized. Ask God for hope, new ways, freedom, breaks in relationships, etc.
Take time to pray for your own enemies and oppressors. Ask God to give you a tangible reminder that he is your strong deliverer.