Psalms 140:1

The Bible says in Psalm 140:1-5, “Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;[2] Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.[3] They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.[4] Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.[5] The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.” Of course, the Psalmist did the right thing when he had enemies. He turned to the Lord and trusted the Lord about it. Unbelieving people of the earth have a lot of power in this life, and they can do a lot of damage if they want to. In these verses we are reminded that they can be “violent.” They have “mischiefs in their heart.” They are “for war,” and not for peace. Verse two says, “continually are they gathered together for war.” They do not give up. They have a long-term plan to corrupt the world, and they keep working on it; whether we are talking about immoral Hollywood people, liberal judges, leftist and socialist professors, deceitful and corrupt politicians, or other people who are simply filled with the devil such as thugs and murderers and racists. In verse three the wicked ones are compared to poisonous snakes. Once again in verse four they are said to be violent. They want to overthrow the believer. That is why they have laid snares, and cords, and nets to do it. We have only one hope against such powerful and determined enemies: trust in the Lord. They have no power compared to Jesus the King of kings.

The Bible says in Psalm 140:6-11, “I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.[7] O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.[8] Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.[9] As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.[10] Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.[11] Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.” In verse six the Psalmist asks the Lord to hear him. That is one request that you do not have to make of God. He always hears. He loves to hear from us. His infinite mind can process every request very easily. But the fact that the Psalmist makes this request shows how much he knows that he is totally dependent upon the Lord hearing him and answering his prayers. The Psalmist knows that he is in big trouble without the Lord. At the end of verse seven the Psalmist prays, “thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.” He has been in battle before and he knows that God protected him, and so he is looking to the lord again. God does not change. Whatever the Lord has done for you in the past, He can do for you again. “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”

In verse eight the Psalmist prays, “Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked…” It is true: God decides what the results of anyone’s plans will be. Man does not decide. Many are the devices of man, but God determines what will succeed and what will fail, even among the plans of the wicked. That is why it says in Second Thessalonians 2:7, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.” Much more wickedness would take place than already does, if it were not for the Holy Spirit restraining the growth and magnitude of the wickedness. Eventually the wickedness will be allowed to break forth in greater intensity. Jesus calls it the time of the Great Tribulation.

At the end of verse nine the Psalmist prayed, “let the mischief of their own lips cover them.” Yes, the Lord can turn the tables on the wicked. The Lord can do it in this life, and He often does; and the Lord will definitely do it at the judgment. The judgment is coming. Be ready for the judgment by turning to the Lord Jesus Christ while there is time. In verse ten the Psalmist said, “Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.” That is exactly what will happen to those who reject the Lord Jesus. The torments of hell involve fire and a deep pit (the bottomless pit). Christians have one primary recommendation to the people of the world: come to Jesus. He will receive you and forgive you. “The Spirit and the bride say, come.” (Revelation 22:17).

Notice that it says at the end of verse eleven, “evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.” Jesus said something very similar. Jesus said, “They that live by the sword shall die by the sword.” When God makes a statement like that, it is going to happen for sure. We should be peacemakers, not troublemakers. We should love our neighbors and do them good, not hurt them. Those who become violent ensure their own violent overthrow. They will reap what they sow. It will be their destiny. They will not be able to escape. There is justice because God is just.

The Bible says in Psalm 140:12-13, “I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.[13] Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.” If you know the Lord Jesus, and if you know the promises of the Bible, and if you have seen how life works, then you will know the same thing that the Psalmist knew: “the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.” The Lord takes care of His own. And the Lord has compassion on those who suffer and are afflicted. Notice the phrase “the right of the poor.” One of the reasons that some people are poor is that they were never given opportunity that they deserved. They were held back. They were kept in poverty by evil and deceitful people. That is one of the reasons that freedom and opportunity are so important. People should be able to rise to the level of their God-given talents. That is the will of God. The Lord will judge anyone who tries to keep that from happening. Of course, if you already live in a country that gives freedom and opportunity, you will stay poor if you do not take advantage of your opportunities and apply yourself. “…that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” (Second Thessalonians 3:10)

Verse thirteen tells us two things about those who know and serve the Lord: “Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.” The people of God are a thankful people. Because of Jesus, we have all the blessings of God showered down upon us. We see God’s handiwork everywhere: both in the beautiful world He has created and how He has guided each of our lives step by step. He answers our prayers. He keeps His promises. He makes everything work out for good. He uses us as light to a world in spiritual darkness. And we will live forever with Him: “the upright shall dwell in thy presence.” We can live in His presence on this earth by staying in fellowship with Jesus through the daily confession of sin and through having a desire to always do what is right. And then on the last day of human life, we will step out of this world into the glorious presence of the Son of God.

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