Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Psalms 140:2

Clarke's Commentary

Verse Psalms 140:2. They gathered together — He and his courtiers form plots and cabals against my life.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Psalm 140 - 143 Troubles for the godly

These four psalms are similar, and from the title of Psalms 142:0 it appears that all four belong to the time when David was fleeing from Saul. (See introductory notes to Psalms 34:0.)

Treachery and slander are the chief weapons that David’s enemies use to attack him. These men have the poison of snakes and the cunning of hunters (140:1-5). But Yahweh is David’s God, his defender in whom he trusts for victory (6-8). David’s enemies will receive a fitting punishment if they suffer the torments that they intended to inflict upon David (9-11). The righteous will praise God when they see his justice in punishing the wicked and delivering the innocent (12-13).
When a person is the victim of slanderous talk, such as David was at the time, he is tempted to use strong words and unwise speech in return. David prays that he may be kept from such sins. He does not want to follow the evil ways of the wicked (141:1-4). If a godly person ever has cause to rebuke him, David prays that he may receive it as a blessing, as if he has been anointed with oil. But he will always remain opposed to evil (5). People will be forced to take notice when God acts, for his punishments will leave the wicked completely shattered (6-7). Meanwhile, the wicked still live, and David prays that he will be saved from the traps they have set for him (8-10).

Still pursued by his enemies, David escaped from Gath and fled to the cave of Adullam, though at the time of this psalm others have not yet joined him (1 Samuel 22:1). He is overcome by a feeling of terrible loneliness. Feeling that no one cares for him, he cries out to God (142:1-4). He prays that God will deal with his enemies and so enable him to live a normal life in freedom and security again (5-7).

The frightening thought occurs to David that God might be using the enemy to punish him for his sins. He knows that he, like others, is a sinner, and there is no way of escaping punishment if God decides to act. He therefore casts himself entirely on the mercy of God for forgiveness and deliverance (143:1-2). David tells God about his troubles, how he has been pursued and is forced to live in darkness in the cave (3-4). He thinks of God’s mighty acts in the past and prays that God will save him again (5-6). He fears the hopelessness of those who die without God. He longs for a greater experience of God (7-8). He prays that God, having rescued him, will instruct and guide him in the future (9-12).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

STROPHE I

"Deliver me, O Jehovah, from the evil man; Preserve me from the violent man: Who devise mischiefs in their heart; Continually do they gather themselves together for war. They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; Adders' poison is under their lips. (Selah)"

"From the evil man" Although this has been interpreted both as "the leader,' of enemies and as "a collective" indicating many enemies, "More probably the singular form has a collective force."Leslie C. Allen, Vol. II, p. 264. Miller agreed with this. "`Evil men' and `violent men' (RSV) are singular forms in the Hebrew, but the plural verbs in Psalms 140:2-3 indicate that these singular forms are used in a collective sense."C. M. Miller, co-author with Anthony L. Ash, p. 431.

"Who devise mischiefs in their heart" "`Mischiefs' is a very suggestive and comprehensive term. It always means scheming, underhanded plotting to do some evil thing. Only two other times in the whole Bible do we find the plural 'mischiefs' as used here, i.e., in Deuteronomy 32:23 and in the Davidic Psalms 52:2."The Pulpit Commentary, op. cit., p. 330.

"They gather… together for war" These words do not fit the times of David's conflict with Saul, referring rather to Absalom's `war' against his father David.

"They have sharpened their tongue" Like the word `mischiefs,' this image of a `sharp tongue' also appears in the Davidic Psalms 52:2, where we have, "tongue… like a sharp razor." Still another Davidic Psalm (Psalms 57:4) mentions the `sharp tongue.'

"Adders' poison is under their lips" Paul's quotation of this as an evidence of human sinfulness (Romans 3:13) is, "The poison of asps is under their lips." The switch from "adders" to "asps" came because Paul quoted from the LXX. Both serpents were poisonous.

As DeHoff commented on these verses, "God's children who have felt the sharp tongues of the servants of Satan have no difficulty understanding this verse and knowing how David felt."George DeHoff's Commentary, Vol. III, p. 241.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

Which imagine mischiefs in their heart - Here the language is changed to the plural number in the Hebrew, implying that while there was one man who was eminent in his wickedness and his wrong-doing, there were many others associated with him, acting under his direction. The word “mischiefs” in the Hebrew means “evils; wickednesses.” It was not a single purpose; the plan embraced many forms of evil - doing him wrong in every way possible.

Continually are they gathered together for war - They are organized for this purpose; they are constantly prepared for it. The word rendered “gathered together” properly means to sojourn, to dwell for a time; and it has been proposed by some to render this, “All the day they dwell with wars;” that is, they are constantly involved in them. But the word may mean also “to gather together,” as in Psalms 56:6.

Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

2.Who imagine mischief’s in their heart. Here he charges them with inward malignity of heart. And it is plain that the reference is not to one man merely, for he passes to the plural number (in a manner sufficiently common,) reverting from the head to all his associates and copartners in guilt. Indeed what was formerly said in the singular number may be taken indefinitely, as grammarians say. In general he repeats what I have noticed already, that the hostility to which he was subjected arose from no cause of his. From this we learn that the more wickedly our enemies assail us, and the more of treachery and clandestine acts they manifest, the nearer is the promised aid of the Holy Spirit, who himself dictated this form of prayer by the mouth of David. The second clause may be rendered in three ways. Literally it reads, who gather wars, and so some understand it. But it, is well known that the prepositions are often omitted in the Hebrew, and no doubt he means that they stirred up general enmity by their false information’s being as the trumpet which sounds to battle. Some render the verb — to conspire, or plot together, but this is a farfetched and meager sense. He intimates afterwards in what manner they stirred up unjust war by the wicked calumnies which they spread, as they could not crush a good and innocent person by violence, otherwise than by first overwhelming him with calumny.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Psalms 140:1-13 , another psalm of David.

Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man; Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings. The proud have hid a snare for me, the cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set traps for me ( Psalms 140:1-5 ).

Gins is traps.

I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD. O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them. Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again. Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him. I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor ( Psalms 140:6-12 ).

I'm glad I'm not David's enemy. He really asks God to take care of them. But it is so typical of so many of the psalms of David where his concern is about those who have conspired against him. David is the type of man that you either loved very much or hated very much. It was hard to just have a passive attitude towards David. He had many deep, loyal friends, but he also had many avowed enemies that were seeking to destroy him. And so he seems to be constantly asking God for help against his enemy and then asking God's judgment really to fall upon the head of his enemies.

Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence ( Psalms 140:13 ). "

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

Psalms 140:1-2 are an introductory cry for help. David’s enemies were evil, violent men who were stirring up trouble for him and his kingdom. In Psalms 140:3-5 the psalmist lamented his condition. The words of his enemies were as a serpent’s venom in their destructive power. David’s adversaries had tried to trap him as a hunter snares an animal. Evidently David felt they were trying to kill him.

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

1. Prayer for deliverance 140:1-8

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

Psalms 140

David prayed for God to frustrate his enemies’ attempts to trip him up-with confidence that God would defend him-in this individual lament psalm.

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Which imagine mischiefs in [their] heart,.... This shows that not a single person barely is meant but more, as Saul's courtiers; who were secretly and continually meditating mischief against David, traducing him to Saul, and devising things to take away his life. Such were the Jews to Christ, who were always plotting to entangle him, or contriving to kill him; and so wicked men are ever devising mischief against the quiet in the land, which is very abominable to God; and rightly observed here, to prevail upon the Lord to preserve from them, Psalms 2:1;

continually are they gathered together [for] war; so Saul gathered together three thousand men, and went in pursuit of David, as an enemy, to take him. So Herod and Pontius Pilate joined together, though before enemies, in the prosecution of Christ; and Jews and Gentiles gathered together against him: so the saints, being in a warfare state, have their enemies, who often combine against them, and attack them, and will not suffer them to be at rest and peace; as sin, Satan, the world, and false teachers; see Psalms 120:7.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

To the chief musician. A psalm of David.

      1 Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;   2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.   3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.   4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.   5 The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.   6 I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.   7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.

      In this, as in other things, David was a type of Christ, that he suffered before he reigned, was humbled before he was exalted, and that as there were many who loved and valued him, and sought to do him honour, so there were many who hated and envied him, and sought to do him mischief, as appears by these verses, where,

      I. He gives a character of his enemies, and paints them out in their own colours, as dangerous men, whom he had reason to be afraid of, but wicked men, whom he had no reason to think the righteous God would countenance. There was one that seems to have been the ring-leader of them, whom he calls the evil man and the man of violences (Psalms 140:1; Psalms 140:4), probably he means Saul. The Chaldee paraphrast (Psalms 140:9; Psalms 140:9) names both Doeg and Ahithophel; but between them there was a great distance of time. Violent men are evil men. But there were many besides this one who were confederate against David, who are here represented as the genuine offspring and seed of the serpent. For, 1. They are very subtle, crafty to do mischief; they have imagined it (Psalms 140:2; Psalms 140:2), have laid the scheme with all the art and cunning imaginable. They have purposed and plotted to overthrow the goings of a good man (Psalms 140:4; Psalms 140:4), to draw him into sin and trouble, to ruin him by blasting his reputation, crushing his interest, and taking away his life. For this purpose they have, like mighty hunters, hidden a snare, and spread a net, and set gins (Psalms 140:5; Psalms 140:5), that their designs against him, being kept undiscovered, might be the more likely to take effect, and he might fall into their hands ere he was aware. Great persecutors have often been great politicians, which has indeed made them the more formidable; but the Lord preserves the simple without all those arts. 2. They are very spiteful, as full of malice as Satan himself: They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent, that infuses his venom with his tongue; and there is so much malignity in all they say that one would think there was nothing under their lips but adders' poison,Psalms 140:3; Psalms 140:3. With their calumnies, and with their counsels, they aimed to destroy David, but secretly, as a man is stung with a serpent, or a snake in the grass. And they endeavoured likewise to infuse their malice into others, and to make them seven times more the children of hell than themselves. A malignant tongue makes men like the old serpent; and poison in the lips is a certain sign of poison in the heart. 3. They are confederate; they are many of them; but they are all gathered together against me for war,Psalms 140:2; Psalms 140:2. Those who can agree in nothing else can agree to persecute a good man. Herod and Pilate will unite in this, and in this they resemble Satan, who is not divided against himself, all the devils agreeing in Beelzebub. 4. They are proud (Psalms 140:5; Psalms 140:5), conceited of themselves and confident of their success; and herein also they resemble Satan, whose reigning ruining sin was pride. The pride of persecutors, though at present it be the terror, yet may be the encouragement, of the persecuted, for the more haughty they are the faster are they ripening for ruin. Pride goes before destruction.

      II. He prays to God to keep him from them and from being swallowed up by them: "Lord, deliver me, preserve me, keep me (Psalms 140:1; Psalms 140:4); let them not prevail to take away my life, my reputation, my interest, my comfort, and to prevent my coming to the throne. Keep me from doing as they do, or as they would have me do, or as they promise themselves I shall do." Note, The more malice appears in our enemies against us the more earnest we should be in prayer to God to take us under his protection. In him believers may count upon a security, and may enjoy it and themselves with a holy serenity. Those are safe whom God preserves. If he be for us, who can be against us?

      III. He triumphs in God, and thereby, in effect, he triumphs over his persecutors, Psalms 140:6; Psalms 140:7. When his enemies sharpened their tongues against him, did he sharpen his against them? No; adders' poison was under their lips, but grace was poured into his lips, witness what he here said unto the Lord, for to him he looked, to him he directed himself, when he saw himself in so much danger, through the malice of his enemies: and it is well for us that we have a God to go to. He comforted himself, 1. In his interest in God: "I said, Thou art my God; and, if my God, then my shield and mighty protector." In troublous dangerous times it is good to claim relation to God, and by faith to keep hold of him. 2. In his access to God. This comforted him, that he was not only taken into covenant with God, but into communion with him, that he had leave to speak to him, and might expect an answer of peace from him, and could say, with a humble confidence, Hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord! 3. In the assurance he had of help from God and happiness in him: "O God the Lord--Jehovah Adonai! as Jehovah thou art self-existent and self-sufficient, an infinitely perfect being; as Adonai thou art my stay and support, my ruler and governor, and therefore the strength of my salvation, my strong Saviour; nay, not only my Saviour, but my salvation itself, from whom, in whom, my salvation is; not only a strong Saviour, but the very strength of my salvation, on whom the stress of my hope is laid; all in all, to make me happy, and to preserve me to my happiness." 4. In the experience he had had formerly of God's care of him: Thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. As he pleaded with Saul, that, for the service of his country, he many a time jeoparded his life in the high places of the field, so he pleads with God that, in those services, he had wonderfully protected him, and provided him a better helmet for the securing of his head than Goliath's was: "Lord, thou hast kept me in the day of battle with the Philistines, suffer me not to fall by the treacherous intrigues of false-hearted Israelites." God is as able to preserve his people from secret fraud as from open force; and the experience we have had of his power and care, in dangers of one kind, may encourage us to trust in him and depend upon him in dangers of another nature; for nothing can shorten the Lord's right hand.