Psalm 141

Psalm Category: Individual lament

Central Thought: A cry for deliverance from sinful speech, suffered and perpetrated

Key words: Ear, eye; mouth, heart; prayer

The Cry (vv. 1–2)

The Lord (vv. 1, 3, 8) is addressed as the One who by nature is able to help and, in covenant, is willing to help. The need is urgent (hasten, when) and the petition is personal (voice). A timely and favorable response is anticipated (lifted hands) if the Lord will be pleased with the petition (incense; Rev. 5:8). The climax of offerings each evening (v. 2) concludes the picture of the Lord’s daily promise to forgive sins (sprinkled blood/cup) and give righteousness (burned fat/bread) in order that saved sinners may please the Lord with their petitions at the throne of grace (incense). There are many instances of the Lord answering prayer at the evening sacrifice (Dan. 9:21; Ezra 9:4; Luke 1:10; Acts 3:1, 5; 10:3, 30), so it is a picture of confident expectation of a gracious answer.

The Petition (vv. 3–7)

As the psalmist asked the Lord to watch his mouth in order to answer his cry (vv. 1–2), he now asks Him to watch his mouth and heart (vv. 3–4; Matt. 12:34) in order to keep him from sin (v. 3). The problem is that he has “thin lips” in the moral, not cosmetic sense; that is, lips not strong enough to hold back evil speech (see Jas. 3:2). He laments the pressure of wicked men around him who, with their mouths, would flatter and slander him into participating in their evil words and works (v. 4; see Ps. 1:1; Prov. 1:11). These wicked people endeavor to seduce and persecute him into enjoying the passing pleasures of their sins, which leads to the endless pain of their judgments (v. 4, delicacies; Prov. 1:13; 9:17; Heb. 11:25).

Against the seduction of cruel flattery, he asks for the deliverance of loving rebuke (v. 5; Prov. 27:6; Matt. 18:15). Such rebuke is a privilege to receive and a duty to give among those in covenant with each other in Christ (v. 5, kindness). The rebuke of truth is like wine that cleanses, and the comfort of repentance and restoration is like oil that heals (v. 5; Luke 10:34; Eph. 4:15). He asks for the humility necessary to submit to this painful but healing provision (v. 5, not refuse). Even though he may have fallen into sinful words and deeds under the assault of flattery and slander, he continues to pray against evil (v. 5).

Those who lead the wicked (v. 6, judges) inevitably suffer the just consequences of their sin (v. 6, thrown down). When this happens, those who had followed them see the value of the psalmist’s words against sin and for righteousness (v. 6; see Ps. 78:34; Matt. 5:13–16). The flatteries and slanders of the wicked are not a light affliction for the righteous and, rather, completely ruin their lives (v. 7, plow, break; bones). But they cry to the Lord as the one who will save them (vv. 8–10).

The Cry Completed (vv. 8–10)

As his hands were lifted to the Lord (v. 2), so now the psalmist’s eyes are raised in confident expectation of help (v. 8; see Ps. 123:1–2). He looks to the Lord alone for protection and salvation (v. 8; see Deut. 6:5, 13; Acts 4:12). By means of the pictures of traps and snares (v. 9), he renews his prayer for deliverance from the flatteries and slanders of the wicked (vv. 3–4). He understands that, if the wicked do not repent, the only means of his deliverance is by their destruction (v. 10). This destruction is just (10, their own nets).

Watch My Mouth!

Ask God to watch your mouth—to watch your mouth in order to hear and answer your prayers. Ask Him to watch your mouth so that nothing evil comes out of it, and to watch your heart so that nothing evil is conceived in it under the flatteries and persecutions of the wicked against you. Be faithful to humbly receive correction when you fall into evil words and works and to give correction when your brethren do.

Above all, remember Jesus, who Himself was heard in suffering and death and was answered in resurrection and life (see Ps. 22). Remember Jesus, who was flattered and slandered but never yielded to these things by participating in sin. Remember Jesus, who accomplished for us the very things that we ask for in this psalm and that we have by grace and through faith in Him. He is our only priest, evening offering, and incense. He is the one who makes us and our petitions pleasing to God and, in this, guarantees a perfectly gracious, abundant, and timely answer to our cries. As with Jesus, so with you in Him, the wicked will suffer their own schemes and you will pass by them safely into eternal blessing.

Kit Swartz | Comments welcome at oswegorpc@hotmail.com. Sermon audio files and PDF outlines on these Psalms are available at reformedvoice.com.