“Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle. Do not grant the wicked their desires, Lord; do not let their plans succeed.”
Psalm 140: 7-8
 
Psalm 140
 
Observe

1. David begins with a call for protection from evil men who plot against him (vs. 1-3)
2. The call for safety intensifies as he realizes the snares and traps these enemies are planning (4-5)
3. The call for help from God turns to a focus upon God who is able to protect and deliver David (6-8)
4. David prays that what the evil have planned for him will actually fall upon them (9-11)
5. The Psalm concludes with a statement of faith-filled praise for God and His justice (12-13)

 
Interpret
     As a young man, king to be, and King, David faced many challenges, perils and indeed enemies. He dealt with the lion and bear in protecting his father’s sheep, he faced Goliath on behalf of his people and as King he faced many enemies from within and without. It is probable though, that this Psalm was written at a time when he was persecuted and hunted by King Saul when he was in exile and peril. A Psalm that was then often utilized when in the office of King.
     David prays for protection from verbal, bitter assaults that malign him and his name. At the time it was thought that the poison of a snake came through its tongue hence the vivid description in verse 3. This depiction brings to mind the damaging power of words that James warns about in his letter (3: 1-12). David also prays against actual violence and plans of entrapment.
     It is worth noticing that his pray intensifies as the Psalm progresses and moves from prayers of defense (protection) to prayers of offense (attack). The turning point comes when he focuses on God Himself (6-8).  Faith enables David to be more positive and assertive in prayer. All results in a confident conclusion of praise in God’s justice and the inevitable victory through Him.
     David, in His prayers, is often very dramatic, even harsh; this the passion of prayer wrapped up within righteous anger. Praying in this way enabled him to turn situations to God so that while hot in prayer he was cool in action, trusting all to God’s will and sovereignty.
    
Application
     In life, as God’s children, we will face those who dislike us, speak against us and even threaten violence towards us. We live in a secular society that, at present, tolerates our faith with unease. The Gospel does offend and if we live according to God’s truth there will be times when there is a negative reaction to us. This Psalm encourages us to go to God in prayer, in total honesty, and in the passion of faith. As we ‘offload’ our hurt and fear, we turn our eyes to God, and can be encouraged by His reality, strength, justice, grace and love. We are reminded that our enemies are principalities and powers (Ephesians 6: 12) and that vengeance belongs to the Lord alone (Jeremiah 46: 10a). Praying like this keeps us from bitterness, heals our hurts and empowers us to love, even our enemies (Matthew 5: 44).
     In prayers like this we can move from a defensive stance to one where we go on the attack in the spiritual realm, breaking down the strongholds that govern the situation we are facing. God then goes before us when we step out again in faith.
 
The Question of Application
     Are you facing hurt, fear and challenges? Pray with honesty, turn your eyes to the Lord and witness His deliverance.
 
Prayer
    Save us, Lord, from all terror and oppression; strengthen us in prayer and faith that your justice may roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen
 
Praise 
My Lighthouse by Rend Collective
A Mighty Fortress is our God sung by Matt Boswell

            “Let the modern wits, after this, look upon the honest shepherds of Palestine as a company of rude and unpolished clowns; let them, if they can, produce from profane authors thoughts that are more sublime, more delicate, or better turned; not to mention the sound divinity and solid piety which are apparent under these expressions.” – Claude Fleury

Observe:
                Psalm 139 is, in my experience, one of the most-quoted Psalms in the Bible. This is for good reason, as I’m sure all of us, at one point or another, have turned to or been pointed to this particular Psalm when we need God’s caring words and comforting assurances. In it we find soaring praise of, and promise from, the Great and Living God, such as:

• I am known by Him who made the universe
• He is all around me, cares for me, and thinks of me
• I cannot escape His presence or be stolen from Him
• He formed me and created me
• Nothing I do can surprise Him
• I will praise Him in all things
• I will bear myself before Him as the saviour of my life

Interpret:
                Unlike the pagan gods of David’s time, who were often hostile or indifferent to their mortal underlings, David knew that Yahweh so deeply cared about His creation that He sought and knew each man and woman ever to walk this earth. David understood that God doesn’t just know everything, He knows me. He doesn’t just exist everywhere, but is everywhere with me. He didn’t just create everything, but He created me!

                “Any small thoughts that we may have of God are magnificently transcended by this psalm; yet for all its height and depth it remains intensely personal from first to last.” (Kidner)

                David used the proverbial phrase “You know my sitting down and my rising up,” to say that God knew everything about him, even the most everyday things. As Jesus would later say, God knows the number of hairs on our head (Matthew 10:30). David also knew the sovereignty of his God who saw all things and controlled all things, as seen in verse 5: “The normal sense of a hedge in the Bible is of a protective barrier. God hedged David on every side, so that nothing could come to David unless it first passed through God’s permission. What was true for David is true for all who trust in the LORD.”

                He goes on to write of God’s omnipresence, a comforting and powerful character trait of his mighty Lord, “The psalmist is not trying to evade God, but he further amplifies that God’s knowledge is beyond the ability of humans to grasp. The knowledge or discernment of God can never be limited to any particular place, because God’s sovereignty extends to the whole created universe.” (VanGemeren)

                Indeed, heaven is not high enough nor is hell low enough to escape the loving presence of God. The Apostle Paul would write in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The very essence of us as human beings, made in the image of God, is under His watchful eye even while in the womb! The Psalmist takes time to show the care with which we all were made, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.” From the very beginning, you were known by God.

                David turns abruptly from wonder to a prayer against the wicked, so filled with love for his Lord and that which the Lord loves to a deep desire to do away with doers of evil and lovers of unrighteousness. “David went against a spirit also evident in our day – against the idea that we can love God without hating evil. It is entirely possible for a person to be too loving, and it corrupts his claimed love for God … We are neither to hate the men, on account of the vices they practice; nor to love the vices, for the sake of the men who practice them.” (Horne)

                Finally, there is a fervent prayer for God to know and reveal each and every anxiety and wicked tendency within the author. When prayed sincerely, this is something of a dangerous prayer – worthy, yet dangerous. “It is a serious thing to pray because it invites painful exposures and surgery, if we truly mean it. Still, it is what every wise believer should desire.” (Boice)

Application:

                Normally I’d have an equally-long paragraph on application of the subject written above, but since this is the Psalm 139, I’d simply ask that you take the time today, right now, to read this Psalm aloud nice and slowly, verse by verse. Take time to notice the depths of David’s words. Think about what is being said and what is not being said. Read and absorb these words with the overarching knowledge that your life exists at the behest of God; we are meant to serve and please Him above all else. We are called to lay ourselves aside and know Him deeply. We are meant to hold nothing back – no secrets, no sins, no shame, no pride, nothing – when we come to Him in prayer. Remember these things as you read and allow the Lord to make more room in your heart!

Prayer:
                Father God, we thank you that we cannot escape you or be taken from you. Thank you for being a personal God, a God who loves and understands and blesses far beyond all measure. Thank you for thinking of us, for we are unworthy of the means by which you lavish us with love. Be with us this day, and for evermore. Amen!

Song: Psalm 139 (Shane & Shane) 

TEXT: Psalm 138

OBSERVE:
Verses 1-3: The psalmist expresses his intention to praise the Lord, and by doing so he does praise him with full sincerity and enthusiasm (with all his heart). He will praise God’s name, since his name represents his character and his actions.
Verses 4-5: The psalmist then expresses the hope that his praise/thanksgiving for God will extend beyond himself, and indeed, beyond the borders of Israel. God is the God of the entire world and thus deserves the praise of all the kings of the earth.
Verses 6-8: The psalmist stands amazed that such a great and powerful God cares for the vulnerable (the lowly). He counts himself among their number since he is in the midst of trouble. But God takes care of him and fights off his foes. The psalmist ends with an appeal to God to not abandon him while in the midst of trouble.  

INTERPRET: This psalm is the first of eight Davidic psalms. He thanks God for answering his prayers and calls on the kings of the earth to join in the praise. He praises God for his great name and his wonderful promises. He loves the Lord for taking care of the vulnerable.

During the Old Testament period, the kings of the earth did not praise God; if anything, they resisted and challenged him. However, when Christ came, the gospel began to spread throughout the earth. Revelation 21:24 pictures the end of time when the kings of the earth will bring their splendour into the New Jerusalem.

APPLICATION: This psalm provides clarity on how to worship God. Simply, that there is only one way to worship God—with your whole heart.  Half-hearted praise will never do. This whole-hearted praise will only come from a life devoted to God and souls that have been radically saved from power of the enemy.

To worship God in Spirit and in truth, we must comprehend two realities: We must clearly understand who we are, and we must understand who God is. Therefore, two questions remain for every believer regarding our worship.  Are we humble? And is God glorified? This is what matters above everything else. Jesus must be the purpose and source of our worship in every way. That is the heart of worship. 

PRAYER: Holy Lord, we come before you with gratitude and praise, offering you the worship of our hearts and lives. Open our eyes to see you; open our ears to recognize your voice; and open our mouths to praise you. Send us out from here, to live and work in the world as your faithful disciples. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.
 
SONG: The Heart of Worship