Pleas of Mercy to Songs of Triumph: Psalm 140

Pleas of Mercy to Songs of Triumph

Psalm 140

Prayer is the privilege of bringing one’s concerns before God with confident hope that he will respond.

VanGemeren

Surely there is no doubt that evil exists in this world. One simply must turn on the TV or access the internet to see story after story of evil and its deeds. But we don’t even have to go looking for a news story, we have each been the recipient of sinful words and works. Behind violent men planning evil in their heart and others with venom under their lips is the Serpent. Where nets and traps are hidden to ensnare others, or wicked men planning and devising ways to trip up others, behind the scheming and destructive plans is the Evil One. And we must not be ignorant of his schemes (2 Corinthians 2:11). We must know how to wisely respond to those who wrong us and plan evil against us.

No matter how small or large the sins done against us may seem, we can still apply the principles we see David use in Psalm 140. He repeatedly dealt with wicked men who were literally out for his life. In this psalm, he describes these evil, violent men. These men set snares and traps in order to trip up his feet. They were slanderers with mischief on their lips and evil plots in their hearts. What did David do? What did he desire to see the Lord do? What should we do when we are affected by someone’s wrong actions or words?

First, David turned to the Lord and cried out for mercy. He asked the Lord to deliver and preserve him from evil men (140:1). He asked God to strengthen and fortify him in the day of battle. He needed the internal strength of courage and endurance as well as physical strength to stand against his foes. He asked the Lord to guard him and keep watchful care over him (140:4). David could not see or know all the dangers coming against him, but the Lord did. And David leaned into the preserving power of God to take care of him. Do you need the Lord to gird you up with strength to bear up under the load you have? Do you need His protection and watchful preservation of you in your situation? In our own trouble, we can pray that the Lord would guard, sustain, and deliver us.

Next, David was not ignorant of these men and their plots. Their evil plans and sharp tongues were a manifestation of their heart condition. They committed evil and violence, and David did not guard his words while he was crying out to the Lord. He lays out before the Lord all the evil that had been plotted against him, and he asks the Lord, “Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted!” Successful plans can increase pride and make people even more bold and confident. When someone is doing good and not evil, confidence to continue on is a good thing. But when men are committing violent acts, their success and thus their increased confidence is a terrible thing. David is begging the Lord to intervene so that these evil men will not be exalted and thus further their evil plots. In our situation, have we spoken honestly to the Lord concerning those who are doing what is wrong? Have we laid it all out before Him? Have we been speaking the truth concerning the difficult people in our lives, or have we minimized, excused, enabled, or ignored?

David also was not ignorant that his God, in His faithfulness and incomparable power, could deliver, fortify, preserve, and defend him. He knew the Lord would cover his head in the day of battle (140:7). He declared, “I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy” (Psalm‬ ‭140‬:‭12‬). David, as the afflicted one, knew God would sustain him against the opposition and danger he faced. God would bring about justice for him in his time of need. David rested in the knowledge that he belonged to God. He says, “You are my God” (140:6), “my Lord,” “my salvation” (140:7). Because he belonged to God, he knew even the dark situation in which he found himself would result in thanksgiving. He said, “Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name” (140:13). “At the time of the intervention and vindication ‘the righteous’ will change their prayers for deliverance to songs of triumph” (VanGemeren). In our situation, are we confident, hopeful, and trusting, being fully assured that our God will cover our head in the day of battle, shielding us? Are we certain that our cries for deliverance and mercy will become songs of triumph?

Our Lord Jesus faced broods of vipers, men who plotted to kill Him. Dressed in spiritual garb, they persecuted Christ and “were seeking all the more to kill Him” (John 5:18). And yet, until the appointed time, their evil plots and schemes were thwarted. Then, according to the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, these godless men put Jesus to death on a cross. Momentarily it seemed that their wicked plans had succeeded. Momentarily it looked like their traps and venomous words had the victory. But, “God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it” (Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬). God used the Wicked One’s schemes to bring about his own defeat. The greatest song of triumph began to be sung on that Sunday morning.

Though David lived long before Christ, he knew there was a place prepared for him where in the presence of His Lord there would be fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11). So here in Psalm 140, David ends by saying, “The upright shall dwell in your presence” (13). “His last words match the climax which the whole of Scripture moves: His servants shall serve Him; and they shall see His face (Rev. 22:3)” (Kidner). The repeated storyline of Scripture reminds us that a better day, a far more glorious day, awaits us. In our situation, it may seem that right now, the plans formed against us have the upper hand, but God reigns. Evil will not have the last word.

If you are God’s child, that is the deciding factor of whether or not the trouble that is coming against you will triumph over you, or you over it. In Christ, we overwhelmingly conquer (Romans 8:37 NASB). In Christ, all our trouble is working for our good and our eternal glory (Romans 8:28; 2 Corinthians 4:17). And not just our good and the glory He has promised us, but He will get the glory and praise and honor due His name. We will stand in awe of His wisdom and power on that day. Even if evil schemes appear to be succeeding, it will only be a temporary success. In fact, as He did at the cross, God has a predetermined plan that is orchestrating this distress for our deliverance, and we will sing songs of triumph.

Let’s pray for ourselves or someone we know, who is dealing with another who has wronged them or is sinning against them, that the Lord would guard them and turn their cries for mercy to songs of deliverance.

140:1-3 Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually. They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s, and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah

Let’s pray:

▫️The Lord would deliver them from the situation, relationship, or _________ that connects them to those who are planning evil things against them.

▫️The Lord would strengthen and fortify them in this battle they are in. He would give them courage and strength to bear up under these hard circumstances.

▫️The hearts of those involved would be revealed through their words and actions. The wicked would not be able to deceive, manipulate, or lie successfully.

140:4-5 Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet. The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net; beside the way they have set snares for me. Selah

Let’s pray:

▫️The Lord would guard _______ and keep watchful care over them. They, and we, would trust that the Lord knows and sees all that is happening, and He will defend.

▫️The Lord’s preserving power would watch over and sustain the afflicted.

▫️The Lord would expose the plans the wicked have to trip up the righteous. The Lord would thwart the hidden traps, and the nets and snares the arrogant have set.

140:6-8 I say to the Lord, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O Lord! O Lord, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah

Let’s pray:

▫️We would be confident that those who are in Christ will be heard, their pleas for mercy will reach the ears of the Lord, and those in Christ will overwhelmingly conquer even in these difficult circumstances.

▫️The Lord would cover _________’s head in the day of battle. He would surround them as with a shield. He would be their rock, fortress, and deliverer.

▫️The Lord would incline Himself to _______ and hear their cry. He would draw them up from this pit of destruction, out of the miry bog. He would set their feet upon a rock, making their footsteps firm. He would put a new song in ________’s mouth, a song of praise to Him. Many would see and fear and put their trust in our great God (Psalm 40:1-3).

▫️The Lord would not grant the desires of the wicked or further their plot. The proud would not be exalted. The Lord would fulfill His promise to resist the proud and give grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5).

140:9-11 As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them! Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise! Let not the slanderer be established in the land; let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

Let’s pray:

▫️The mischief of the lips of the deceiver would come back to him and overwhelm him.

▫️The afflicted ones would leave vengeance to the Lord, knowing He will repay. When their enemy is hungry, they would feed him; when he is thirsty, they would give him something to drink. Thus they would heap burning coals on their enemy’s head. They would overcome evil with good (Romans 12:19-21).

▫️While trusting the Lord with their vindication, ________ would not be afraid to stand for what is right and to do what is right in their current situation. They would understand that trusting the Lord is not always a call to inaction. _________ would have the Lord’s wisdom in how to respond to the evildoer.

▫️The slander and the slanderer would not be established. Their words and actions would be exposed for what they truly are.

140:12-13 I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence.

‭‭Let’s pray:

▫️The Lord would speedily come to the aid of His afflicted ones and maintain their cause by sustaining them through this danger and upholding and defending them.

▫️The Lord would execute justice for the needy. He is the righteous Judge, and ________ would continue to entrust themselves, their situation, and their justice to Him.

▫️When the Lord intervenes and vindicate them, ________’s prayers for deliverance will be changed to songs of triumph.

▫️While they wait for the Lord’s vindication, they would trust Him knowing that any setback or seeming defeat is only momentary. He will orchestrate this distress for their deliverance. He will give them songs of triumph to sing. He will overwhelmingly conquer on their behalf.

May the Lord do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, for His glory and our good. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Photo credit to pabloheimplatz

Search This Blog

Savoring the Scripture