Psalm 141 (December 12th, 2025)
- Brian Lee
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Summary
Psalm 141 is David’s prayer for protection from both external evil and internal temptation. Perhaps, David was tempted by the prosperity of the evil men. Why does God allow evil to succeed while the saints suffer? This is an age-old question that often makes the saints stumble.
O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! (vv.1–2).
David’s crisis is not merely danger from others. It is the danger of becoming like the very evil he opposes. He prays:
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! (v.3).
He knows how easily the tongue can betray righteousness, how quickly the heart can incline toward compromise. Here, the Hebrew word for "delicacies" refers not to food but to "pleasure, ease, luxury, and enjoyable abundance".
Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies! (v.4).
David even welcomes rebuke from the righteous:
Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head (v.5).
This is not self-loathing but humble longing. He would rather receive loving correction than drift toward the “delicacies” of the wicked. He rightly recognizes the temptations that seem small but quietly shape the soul.
Meanwhile, the wicked set snares around him. His eyes remain fixed on God:
But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless! Keep me from the trap they have laid for me and from the snares of evildoers! (vv.8–9)
The psalm ends with confidence that those who oppose God will fall into their own nets, while the righteous (those who cling to Him) will be kept safe (v.10).
Who is God
God receives our prayers like incense and draws near when His people cry out. He is not distant. He “hastens” to His children (v.1). He is the guardian of the heart and the keeper of the tongue, able to “set a guard” over our lips (v.3). He preserves integrity, granting refuge when others set snares (v.9). God protects not only our circumstances but our character. He sustains the righteous, receives their honest pleas, and keeps them from stumbling into the traps of the wicked. The Bible tells us that God not only cares about our safety (situation), but also about our holiness (character).
What is our Guilt
Today's passage confronts the subtle places where sin grows. We often fear external threats but ignore the ways our own hearts are inclined to evil (v.4). We misuse our words by quickly speaking defensively, sharply, or manipulatively. We resist and even refuse correction (v.5). We are easily seduced by the “delicacies” of sin. We are not alarmed by "small" compromises that seem harmless but actually nourish pride, bitterness, or self-justification. While we are quick to name the snares that others lay for us, we overlook the snares that we lay for ourselves through gossip, resentment, or moral laziness. The Bible exposes our tendency to drift unless God actively guards our hearts.
How does Grace shine
David's longing finds its fulfillment in Christ. Jesus’ prayers were like pure incense rising before the Father. Christ alone kept His mouth without sin. He received the righteous “rebuke” of the cross, but it was not for His unrighteousness. He was struck not for His sins but for ours. Christ was tempted but did not sin. He resisted every delicacy of temptation for us. He obeyed in our place. He entered death to free us from every trap of the evil one. Now, through His resurrection and the gift of the Spirit, the Grace of our Lord guards our hearts from evil inclinations from ruining us. Christ keeps His people from falling into the pits of the wicked and leads them into the safety of God’s presence.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
You hear our cries and draw near when we call.
Guard our hearts from subtle sin and protect our lips from harmful words. Keep us from the temptations that look pleasant but lead us away from you. Grant us humility to receive correction, courage to resist compromise, and clarity to see the snares around us.
We praise you, for it is through Jesus Christ that we are being sanctified into a life that honors you.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
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