Today’s post is part of our Psalm Saturdays series from guest blogger Robert Chamberlain. You can read his archives at www.roberlain.wordpress.com .
Psalm 140:1–13 (ESV)
1 Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men,
2 who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually.
3 They make their tongue sharp as a serpent’s, and under their lips is the venom of asps. Selah
4 Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet.
5 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
6 I say to the LORD, You are my God; give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O LORD!
7 O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.
8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted! Selah
9 As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
10 Let burning coals fall upon them! Let them be cast into fire, into miry pits, no more to rise!
11 Let not the slanderer be established in the land; let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!
12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence.
We need God’s deliverance from those who would do us harm. We need Him to guard us and to preserve our lives. We need Him to save us from the traps of evildoers.
The Lord is our God, and we need Him to give ear to our cries for mercy. God is the strength of our salvation who clothes us with the helmet of salvation. He protects us from the enemy’s attacks.
We don’t want evildoers to get their own way; we want them to get their comeuppance. They deserve hell, but God can graciously save the afflicted. God maintains the cause of the needy and executes justice for them.
If we’ve been made righteous through faith in God, we will give thanks to His holy name. If we’ve been set upright by God, we can have confidence that we will dwell in His presence. We deserve His condemnation for our wrongdoing, but we can graciously receive His eternal life.
“Dear Lord, thank You so much for protecting us from those who would do us harm, and please grant that we should be made righteous and dwell in Your house forever. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
**If you enjoy reading Shaped by the Word, please consider sharing this post on social media. Doing so helps us reach a larger audience. Thanks for reading!
Follow Shaped by the Word on WordPress or Facebook.
Shaped by the Word 