The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:1-10

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

EXPOSITION

ALMOST wholly a psalm of supplication. David is again in danger, and needs a prompt deliverance (Psalms 141:1). This time the danger seems to be that he may fall away, and be absorbed into the company of the wicked. He therefore prays:

1. That prayer may be with him a settled institution (Psalms 141:2).

2. That he may be saved from sins of the tongue (Psalms 141:3).

3. That he may be saved from sins of thought or act (Psalms 141:4).

4. That he may be given grace to welcome reproof (Psalms 141:5).

The circumstances of the time are then shortly touched. There has been a severe judgment on the rulers of the people (Psalms 141:6), and a great national calamity (Psalms 141:7), with the result that the people are touched in their hearts, while David's confidence in God is in no way diminished. This is followed by a renewal of prayer:

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commentaryMatthew Henry on Psalms 141:1-4Make haste unto me. Those that know how to value God's gracious presence, will be the more fervent in their prayers. When presented through the sacrifice and intercession of the Saviour, they will be as acceptable to Go…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:1Lord, I cry unto thee; make haste unto me. The need is pressing and urgent. God is therefore entreated to "hasten" (comp. Psalms 22:19; Psalms 31:2; Psalms 38:22; Psalms 40:17, etc.). Give ear unto my voice, when I cry…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:1-10A comprehensive prayer. The psalm has some peculiar difficulties, due to the extreme abruptness with which the thoughts follow one another, and the great obscurity which hangs over the allusions. Let us try and select t…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:1-10Acceptable sacrifices. The more distinctive teaching of this psalm respects— I. THE SACRIFICE OF PRAYER. (Psalms 141:2, Psalms 141:8, Psalms 141:9.) When the sacrificial services of the tabernacle (or temple) could not…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:1-10Keep me from the snares. This difficult psalm seems to be the cry of a greatly tempted soul. And the temptation now did not arise so much from the persecutions of the ungodly as from their seducing favors—what he calls…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:1The plea of former prayer. Associating this psalm with David, Spurgeon thinks we have here "David under suspicion, half afraid to speak lest he should speak unadvisedly while trying to clear himself; David slandered and…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:2Prayer as incense. From the mention of the evening sacrifice we may gather that the psalmist is actually praying in the evening. Incense was offered when the lamps were trimmed in the morning, and when the lamps were li…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:2Let my prayer be set forth (or, "established") before thee as incense; i.e. with the regularity of the incense, and with its acceptableness. And the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. The hands were "lifte…Joseph S. Exell and contributors