Bible Commentaries
Psalms 140

Verses 1-13

Psalms 140

An Hunted Soul

Scripture v. 1-13:

This psalm seems to allude to the plots and crafty persecutions that Saul and Doeg initiated against David to cause him much anguish of soul.

Verses 1-3 appeal to the Lord to deliver David from the evil and violent kind of man. David adds such were continually imagining (planning) mischief in their heart and gathering in colleague and collusion for war against him. He added, "They have sharpened their tongues like serpents; Adder’s poison (venom) is under their lips Selah," Psalms 12:7; 2 Samuel 22:49; Psalms 56:6; Psalms 59:3; Though the words of David’s enemies were of serpentine hate and venom, David trusted in God for help.

Verse 4 relates David’s cry for the Lord to keep (guard) and preserve him from the hands of the wicked and the violent kind of men who had "purposed to overthrow his goings," as related Psalms 118:13; Psalms 56:13; Psalms 71:4.

Verse 5 adds, "The proud have hid a snare (set a trap) for me, and cords; They have ,spread a net by the way-side; they have set gins for me. Selah." The terms: snare, cords, net, and gins all refer to the same thing, efforts David’s enemies made to entrap him like a bird or netting a wild animal, as related Psalms 31:4; Psalms 57:6; Psalms 64:5; Psalms 142:3; Yet he trusted the Lord for deliverance. Selah means meditate on or digest this for nourishment, Proverbs 29:5; Jeremiah 18:22; Luke 11:53-54.

Verse 6 recounts "I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God; Hear

the voice of my supplications, O Lord," from Psalms 31:14; Psalms 27:2; Psalms 27:6.

Verse 7 extols, "O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, (deliverance or liberation); Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle," as the keeper of my head, Psalms 62:1; Psalms 62:11; See also Psalms 60:7; 1 Samuel 28:2; La 3:22,23.

Verse 8 is a Davidic appeal for the Lord to, "grant not the desires of the wicked," and "Further not his wicked device, lest they exalt themselves. Selah;" Against both the Lord and David and Israel, the anointed of the Lord, deliberately, Deuteronomy 32:27; Psalms 27:12; Psalms 66:7.

Verse 9 appeals "as for the head (leader) of those that compass (encircle) me about," to destroy me, "Let the mischief or their own lips (the lies and entrapment collusions) cover them," fall upon and entrap them in their own dug pits, Psalms 7:16; Psalms 74:3; Psalms 94:2; Isaiah 33:10; Isaiah 37:20.

Verse 10 continues an imprecatory plea for the Lord to "Let burning coals fall upon them (David’s enemies); let them be cast into the fire; Into deep pits, that they rise not up again," to do the wicked things they had purposed against God, David, and Israel, Psalms 18:12-13; Psalms 120:4; Psalms 76:12; Isaiah 43:2.

Verse 11 adds, "Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth," Psalms 10:1; Psalms 10:7. It is added, "Evil shall hunt (stalk) the violent man to overthrow him," even the Lord’s judgment shall trail him, Galatians 6:7-8; Psalms 35:6; Numbers 32:23.

Verse 12 affirms "I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor," as repeatedly certified Psalms 9:4; Psalms 10:17-18; Psalms 102:17; Proverbs 22:22; Jeremiah 22:16. Solomon adopted this phrase from his father, 1 Kings 8:45; 1 Kings 8:49.

Verse 13 concludes that Surely the righteous would "give thanks unto thy name: The upright shall dwell in thy presence," Psalms 16:11; Psalms 61:7.