Psalm 141

First, a detour through Psalm 119, a most unique Psalm. The quarterly doesn't deal with this one, although I believe it's vital. This is by far the longest Psalm of all, and the longest chapter in the entire Bible with 176 verses! You can count 22 divisions of eight verses each. Most Bibles have a label over each division: Alef, Beth Gimel, Dalith...all 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. What you can't see in the English translations is that each of the eight verses per stanza begins with the same letter of the Hebrew alpabet as the label. If it were in English, it might be something like:

Always I will praise the Lord

And marvel at His word.

As the day begins I will seek Him

And follow throughout the hours.

Get the idea? Try your hand at it!

The theme of all the verses is the Word of God, although he uses a variety of words for law, commandments, statutes, and the like. Many familiar verses are scattered throughout: Thy word have I hid in my heart...

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to thy word.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path...

Remember that the very first Psalm set out on this course that the book returns to again and again. “His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law(Torah) he meditates day and night.”

NOW ON TO 141!

Verse 1 – The poet dives right in. “I have called you. Hurry up and listen to me!”

Impatient isn't he? Well, aren't you and I? I frequently talk about a prayer list I had as a teenager. Eventually, I discovered everyone on the list had either been clearly saved and serving or at least associate with a church. But the last one on the list I found out only when he died 50 years later that he was buried from a church. I also repeatedly see self-help articles claiming that persistence is the common trait of successful people. I expect that applies to prayer as well.

Verse 3 anticipates the Book of James and its concern for speech. Watch my mouth, Lord and guard the door of my lips. How often has your mouth got you in trouble. For or against our current president, he definitely could keep the news (both real and fake!) on track if he would be more careful with his working. I like the old saying, “Be sure your brain is in gear before your mouth is set in motion!”

4 – Help me avoid evil. Note how often Psalms and Proverbs caution against association with evil and wicked people. Were there gangs in those days? Were their conspiracies, crime bosses? Apparently, there was a frequent temptation to hang out with unsavorty people, or scripture would have no need to warn against it. As Christians I feel we should be strong enough to associate with anyone and bend them our way. But as a matter of reality, we can't always do that, and there are some evil-doers who resist change. So it maybe wise to avoid them for fear we might yield to temptation. Consider the extreme cases of undercover cops with drug gangs. How far along can he go with the gang to gain their trust without compromising his personal ethics?

V 5 – On the other hand, he will cheerfully allow criticism and corrections by those who are righteous and just. Let him escape anointment by the sinful ways of evil. Rather he will pray against the evil ways of the wicked.

He concludes by hoping for the violent downfall of corrupt and wicked leaders. Instead, for himself he seeks salvation from the Lord, and he promises his total allegiance to God. We too would do well to focus our devotion on Christ and pray for the Spirit to lead us away from temptation instead to follow just and righteous lives.