INTRODUCTION - Read Psalm 140
Psalm 140 was written by David, entitled "For the Musician". Some commentators believe this to be the Lord Himself (Yahweh), while others believe it was for the Music Leaders in the Tabernacle - possibly Asaph and Herman (a singer).
Whoever it was written to, the theme is apparent - it was not unlike other "Cursing Psalms" that David had written.
"I see the Cursing Psalms as an important model for how we deal with evil and injustice. We should not be outraged with evil, or take revenge into out own hands, rather we should deliver our feelings, stripped bear to God." Philip Yancey
And this is exactly what David did. He had been abused by King Saul, and had to escape the palace in which he was a soldier and a musician for the king. He hadn't done anything wrong - in fact he was one of Saul's best soldiers. But this led to the JEALOUSY of the king. Saul became a very "troubled soul" with a real anger problem, making attempts on David's life. Jonothan, Saul's son heard about these "plots" on the life of his friend David, and suggested he "flee into the wilderness", finding a "hiding place".
"Saul now urged his son Jonathon and his servants to assassinate David. But Jonothan, because of his great affection for David, told him what his father was planning. "Tomorrow morning", he warned him, "you must find a hiding place out in the fields." 1 Samuel 19:1-2 (NLT)
Later, in a Cave in Adallum, David sought the Lord, and this faithful shepherd boy and "giant killer", recovered from his fear and returned "his focus on God" to find courage, strength and refuge in Him.
"Wilderness survivors find refuge in God's presence." Max Lucado
"Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me; for in You I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed." Psalm 57:1 (NIV
DAVID PRAYS FOR REFUGE AND SALVATION - Read Psalm 140:1-5; 1 Samuel 19; Romans 3:3-18; 5:1-5
Last week I watched a war movie: "Escape from Sobibor", a German "death camp" in Poland, for the Polish and later, the Russian Jews. Most families were killed in gas chambers, while others were put to work for the German guards. About 300 people escaped, after killing the German soldiers; but as they were running into the wilderness, many of them stepped on land mines, planted by their enemies. Only 60 prisoners survived till the end of the war.
This Psalm was written by David in fear of his enemies. Like the Jews in the "extermination camps", David cried out to the Lord in trouble. He escaped Saul's court because of his "evil words and plots" against his life. David prayed for DELIVERANCE (SALVATION).
"RESCUE ME, Lord, from evildoers; protect me from the violent, who devise plans in their hearts, and stir up war everyday......KEEP ME SAFE, Lord, from the hands of the wicked, protect me from violent people who devise ways to trip me up......they set traps for me along the path." Psalm 140:1,3&5 (NIV)
"David prayed to be rescued (saved) from people - their evil thoughts, words and deeds." Nicky Gumbel
"This desperate plea in this song shows its GREAT URGENCY by having no prelude of praise or contemplation. David went straight to his PLEA FOR SALVATION." David Guzik
"An evil spirit came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the lyre, Saul tried to pin him against the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night, David made good his escape." 1 Samuel 19:9&10 (NIV)
David's enemies - mainly King Saul - planned "evil in their hearts". He not only made violent attempts on David's life, but his words were "slanderous". Their desire for "war and evil things" were often expressed were often expressed in "sharp, poisonous words". David felt both their sting and their poison.
"They make their tongue as sharp as a serpent, the poison of the vipers on their lips." Psalm 140:2 (NIV)
Paul uses this verse from Psalm 140 when he talks about how unrighteous people can be, unless they put their faith and trust in God. This is what David did, and discovering what might happen to him, it prompted a "thoughtful meditation" (Selah)
"As it is written, "There is no one righteous, not even one". Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit: "The poison vipers are on their lips". Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." Romans 3:10, 13-14 (NIV)
"The Psalmist was in real trouble from the plotting of evil people and their venomous tongues. He prayed that God would guard them." Pat and David Alexander
Are you feeling overwhelmed by evil or hard times? Are you facing any physical or spiritual struggles? You don't need to do it on your own. God is always present and will help you ENDURE THEM ALL.
"David prayed for GOD'S STRENGTH when he felt overwhelmed. God gives us ENDURANCE to face whatever situation life brings." Max Lucado
"Not only so, for we we also GLORY IN OUR SUFFERINGS, because we know that SUFFERING PRODUCES PERSEVERENCE; PERSEVERENCE, CHARACTER; and CHARACTER, HOPE. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit." Romans 5:2-5 (NIV)
DAVID'S PRAYER FOR MERCY AND PROTECTION - Read Psalm 140:6&7, Ephesians 6:10-18
"I said to the Lord: "YOU ARE MY GOD". Listen, O Lord to my CRIES OF MERCY! O Sovereign Lord, the strong One who rescued me, YOU PROTECTED ME ON THE DAYS OF BATTLE."
Psalm 140:6&7 (NLT)
These two verses of this Psalm, show us how much David trusted and hoped in his Father God. He worshipped, "NO OTHER GOD" - his allegiance being to Yahweh alone. This gave him faith and confidence, as "he cried out to God". This true God was David's strength and salvation.
David was an excellent soldier and he lived through many battles, both physical and spiritual. God had been David's SHIELD through all these. He also covered David with his COAT OF ARMOUR, which the enemy could not "cut its way" with SWORDS AND ARROWS.
In AD 62, Paul was imprisoned by the Romans. His life seemed "grim" and his body "fatigued", but it was here that Paul wrote one of his most powerful Epistles to the Church of the Ephesians.
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the FULL ARMOUR OG GOD so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is against FLESH AND BLOOD, and against THE RULERS, against AUTHORITIES, against the POWERS OF THIS DARK WORLD, and against the SPIRITUAL FORCES OF EVIL IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS. Therefore, put on the full armour of God, so that when the day comes, you may be able to STAND YOUR GROUND, and after you have done everything TO STAND." Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV)
"VICTORY is in the air and HOPE fills our hearts. We are standing firm, with weapons in our armour, given to us by the Holy Spirit." Kris Valton
We are called believers, because, like David, "our real world" is the "battlefield of our faith". The devil will do whatever it takes to steal our faith and confidence, just as David's enemies tried to do. With our "SHIELD OF FAITH" we extinguish the "flaming arrows" of the evil one. Our VICTORY IS ASSURED, and like David our faith is rooted in the "WORD OF GOD - the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT."
"Stand firm them, with your BELT OF TRUTH buckled around you waist, with the BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS in place; with our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the GOSPEL OF PEACE. In addition to all this, take up the SHIELD OF FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the HELMET OF SALVATION and the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD." Ephesians 6:14-17 (NIV)
"For the Word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword; it penetrates even to the dividing sword and spirit, joint and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
DAVID'S PRAYER OF REVENGE AND JUSTICE - Read Psalm 140:8-11; 1 Samuel 24&26
The Polish Jews in the Nazi death camps became very vengeful of their Nazi enemies, especially when they discovered their families were all being murdered.
"Do not grant the wicked their desires, Lord. Do not let their plans succeed." Psalm 140:8 (NIV)
David also found it hard to deal with the evil he endured, yet he knew how to stand against these wicked attacks. He didn't have to fight these "wars" ALONE. God was on his side and had equipped him courage and strength he needed. He knew that because of his "demands for vengeance", JUSTICE was in the LORD'S HANDS.
David was angry at his enemies because they had been disloyal to his Father God. God was able to help when we was tempted by his anger. He was indeed surrounded by "trouble makers" - slanderers and violent people - but in the midst of all this HE CRIED OUT: "Oh Lord, do not let their plans succeed."
"When you watch TV news, Online and in Newspapers, it sometimes seems that EVIL TRIUMPHS OVER GOOD . The wicked seem to succeed, but when we read God's Word, we discover that GOD WINS." Nicky Gumbel
Saul was David's long and persistent enemy, but when it came to it, even with all his sins and faults, David knew he was GOD'S APPOINTED KING. When he was attacked he could have lashed out in revenge, but instead, "HE POURED OUT HIS HEART TO THE LORD." He entrusted Sau's punishment to GOD'S JUSTICE, rather than "TAKING IT INTO OUR OWN HANDS."
"When David finish speaking, Saul called back: "Is this really you, my son David? Then he began to cry. And he said to David: "You are a better man than I am, for you REPAID GOOD FOR EVIL."
1 Samuel 24:16&17 (NLT)
"God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time", Abishai whispered to David, "Let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of your spear; I won't need to strike twice." "No!" David said. "Don't let kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the LORD'S ANOINTED ONE."
1 Samuel 26:8&9 (NLT)
"Vengeance fixes you attention on life's ugliest moments.....You need to see your enemy as GOD'S CHID, and justice as GOD'S JOB." Max Lucado
"I see this CURSING PSALM as an important model of how we can deal with evil injustice. We should not be outraged with evil or take outrage in our own hands. Rather we should deliver our feelings, stripped bear to God." Philip Yancey
CONCLUSION - GOD CARES FOR THE POOR AND NEEDY - Read Psalm 140:12&13
"I know that the Lord secures justice for the POOR AND NEEDY. Surely the righteous will PRAISE HIS NAME, the upright will live in HIS PRESENCE." Psalm 130:12&13 (NIV)
Our world has so much INJUSTICE, but we know that GOD CARES FOR THE POOR AND NEEDY. Ultimately the righteous want to SING GOD'S PRAISES. Like David, they want to LIVE IN GOD'S PRESENCE.
The Jews in the Nazi Death Camp, both the Polish and later the Russian soldiers experience great trouble and sorrow, after losing their family and friends. When they triumphed with their escape attempt, and they later made a home and life for themselves in another country. Some gained a greater faith in God, remaining safe and free from their captors.
David too, after lots of running and hiding, gained a greater confidence and never denied his faith in God. He triumphed over his enemies, and later return to be crowned kin in Jerusalem. David ends this Psalm on a note of TRUST, because he knew that those who believed in God would want to live with Him forever.
"David remained confident that God would defend the afflicted people. This would mean justice for the poor and others who suffered affliction from the words of the wicked." David Guzik
"You, dear children, are from God, and have OVERCOME THEM. For the ONE WHO IS IN YOU, IS GREATER than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4 (NIV)
"Escape from Solibar",1987, Jack Gould (Producer), Martin Strange (Executive Producer), Netflix, Zenith Productions.
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ALEXANDER, Pat & David, "The Lion Handbook to the Bible - 4th Edition", 2009, Lion Hudson
GUMBEL, Nicky & Pippa, "The Bible - Classic Version", 2024, Alpha/New Version
GUZIK, David, "Enduring Word Commentary - Psalm 140: The Cry for Confidence for a Slandered Saul", 2021, www.enduringword.com
LUCADO, Max, "NCV Devotional Bible - Experience the Heart of Jesus", 2003, Thomas Nelson
LUCADO, Max, "Facing Giants - God Still Does the Impossible,"2006, Thomas Nelson
VOLTON, Kris, "Spirit Wars - Winning the Invisible Battle Against Sin and and the Enemy." 2012, Chosen
YANCY, Philip, "Prayer - Does it Make a Difference?" 2006, Hodder & Stoughton
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