Psalm One Hundred and Forty One

by Dr. Henry M. Morris

(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)

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A Psalm of David.

Psalm 141:1 LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.

Psalm 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

as incense. The heart-felt prayer of a burdened saint calling on God is compared to the rising of sweet incense from the divinely ordained altar of incense. Compare Revelation 8:4.

Psalm 141:3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

door of my lips. “The tongue can no man tame” (James 3:8). It requires the guarding power of the indwelling Spirit of God to purify what proceeds from the mouth. Of the Lord Jesus Christ, it was prophesied that “grace is poured into thy lips” (Psalm 45:2), and that should be our desire and prayer as well.

Psalm 141:4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

Psalm 141:5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.

Psalm 141:6 When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.

Psalm 141:7 Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.

Psalm 141:8 But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.

Psalm 141:9 Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.

Psalm 141:10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.