Text: Psa 140:1-13 ESV

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.

-Psa 140:1-13 ESV

I SAY TO THE LORD, YOU ARE MY GOD

The next four chapters belong to the time when David was fleeing from Saul. David was a fugitive who went to the Philistine city of Gath. But, he found no refuge there and narrowly escaped. Those events are recorded in 1 Samuel 21:10 - 22:1. Subsequently, David went to the cave at Adullam where many desperate men joined him later.

David’s enemies used treacheries and slanders to attack him. These wicked men are like venomous snakes, asps and cunning hunters (v.1-5).

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

But, David’s confidence is in Yahweh, His God, God is his defender in whom he trusts for deliverance and salvation (v.6-8).

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

David’s enemies will receive a fitting retribution. They would suffer the torments that they intended to inflict upon David (v.9-11).

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!

David praises God confidently to see his justice in punishing the wicked and delivering the innocent to the afflicted and needy like himself. (v.12-13).

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.

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