Psalm 140 (December 11th, 2025)
- Brian Lee
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Summary
Psalm 140 is David’s prayer for deliverance from violent and deceitful men. He begins with urgency:
Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men (v.1).
Who were David's enemies? They were:
Violent men, who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually. They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's, and under their lips is the venom of asps* (vv. 1b-3).
(*NIV translates this as "poison of vipers," which is better here.)
They use words to hurt people. They "gaslight" people, using their position of influence and power to do violence against the people. Their fruit produces strife and instability, rather than peace and rest.
David’s danger is real, not imagined. Traps, snares, and cords are set in his path.
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 (v. 5).
What can David do? He turns from the threat to God, remembering God's character:
I say to the LORD, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O LORD! (v.6).
David remembers God as his mighty protector: “the strength of my salvation” who covers his head in battle (v.7). David entrusts judgment to the righteous God who defends the afflicted and will ultimately bring down the violent (vv.8–11). The psalm ends not in fear but in confidence:
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence (vv.12–13).
Who is God
God listens to the pleas of His people and protects them in the day of battle.
O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! (vv. 7-8).
Our God is neither distant nor indifferent. He defends the afflicted and executes justice for the needy (v.12).
Psalm 140 presents God who sees deception, exposes violence, and guards the righteous from hidden snares. Even when danger is subtle and human schemes are invisible, God’s knowledge is complete, and His protection is personal. That the upright “shall dwell in your presence” tells us that God not only rescues but welcomes His people into eternal fellowship.
What is our Guilt
David’s enemies embody overt wickedness, but the psalm invites us to see ourselves honestly as well. We may not think that we wield violence, yet we often participate in the subtler sins of the tongue. We are quick to use sharp words to cut down people. We spread poisonous sin by spreading gossip, which hides malice. We twist words to satisfy our quiet resentment towards people who do not contribute to building our own kingdoms. We are quick to use speech to wound rather than to heal. We set “snares” for others through gossip or manipulation. When confronted by evil, our instinct is often to fear, to rely on ourselves, or to become bitter, rather than to turn to God as David does. Psalm 140 exposes our tendency to trust our own strategies rather than seeking refuge in the Lord.
How does Grace shine
The psalm’s closing assurance finds its fullness in Christ, who endured the ultimate violence of sinners yet entrusted Himself to the Father.
On the cross, Jesus endured the gaslighting of the religious and political "leaders" of the day. Christ took the venom of human sin into Himself, bearing our guilt so that we might dwell in God’s presence forever. At the Cross, He was struck down that we might be lifted up. His resurrection assures us that no evil can prevail over those united to Him.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
You see the violence and deceit that fill our world and the hidden sins that linger in our own hearts. Protect us from the snares we cannot see, and from the sin we often ignore within. Teach us to trust you as our shield, our strength, and our salvation. Through Jesus Christ, who absorbed the world’s venom and rose victorious, make us people who speak truth, seek justice, and dwell securely in your presence.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Comments