The Book of Psalms
Psalm 140
Psalm CXL · Vol. II, p. 1075
1 David prayeth to be delivered from the mischief of his enemies. 8 He prayeth against them. 12 He comforteth himself by confidence in God.
To the chief musician, A psalm of David.
4 Keepd me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man, who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
5 Thee proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the way-side; they have set gins for me. Selah.2
e Ps.119.21,85,110; 35.7; 57.6; 141.9; 142.3. Je.18.22. 1 Sa.19.11-24. Pr.29.5.
2 See note on Ps.3.2.—C.
7 O GOD the Lord, hthe strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.3
h Ps.18.32,35,50; 28.8. Ge.15.1; 49.24. De.33.27,29. Is.12.2.
3 That is, Thou hast so guarded me by thy providences from the strokes of the enemy as if a shield had been held over my head. The psalmist realized to the full the divine protection.—P.
8 Granti not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device,4 lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
i Job 5.12,13. Ps.33.10; 112.10; 27.12.
4 Or, let them not be exalted, De.32.27.
10 Letk burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into ldeep pits, that they rise not up again.6
11 Let not 7an evil-speaker8 be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.9
* This prayer against an evil-speaker, an inculcator of false doctrines and immoral practices, a calumniator, or a railer against lawful authorities, is usually so visibly fulfilled, that the influence derived from such practices has never, in the mercy of Heaven, been permitted to continue for many successive years.—C.
7 Heb. a man of tongue, ver.9. Ps.64.7,8.
8 See note * in first column
9 Or, an evil-speaker, a wicked man of violence be established in the earth: let him be hunted to his overthrow. Is.3.11. Ps.9.16; 34.21; 7.14-16; 52.4,5.
12 I know nthat the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
n Ps.109.31; 22.24; 102.17; 72.4,12-14; 9.4. 1 Ki.8.45,48.
Notes
Ver. 1. 'Of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?' Ac. 8. 34. Let the prayerful inquirer consult Ps. xl., interpreted by He. 10. 5; then compare Ps. 2. 4, interpreted by Ac. 4. 26, with Ps. 59. 8, and consider its prayer for deliverance, compared with the similar prayer of this psalm, see also Ps. xliii. lix. lxiv. lxxi.—and the parallelism, nay the identity of the descriptions and petitions must point to Messiah in the days of his flesh, as the speaker in this psalm. The chief object of the prayer is deliverance from Judas and his employers, the high-priest and Pharisees, and from Antichrist, that wicked one, 2 Th. 2. 8, and his persecuting followers in apostate Babylon. C.
Reflections.—Behold, as in a glass, how maliciously Jesus Christ was reproached and persecuted; how he gave himself to prayer on account of it; and how the judgment of God overtook his Jewish murderers and persecutors! Let us likewise observe, that sin turns men into a kind of devils, in deceit, malice, and diligence in evil, and in inveterate opposition to the people of God. But the saints may attain, even amidst their troubles, to the most pleasant prayers and praises; for God terribly resents the injuries done to his people; and kindly will he maintain their cause, and for their protection afford them his presence.