#892 Preserve Me

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. Psalm 140 ESV

A Psalm of David to the chief musician.

Deliver me, O Lord, from evil men - They are always plotting, always growing in number, and the end always justifies their means. David had Saul, who God had anointed as king, and so David respectfully goes to the Sovereign above the king rather than taking vengeance himself. He had men in his own camp, like Joab, which became a disgrace upon David's reign. He had a son named Absalom, who tried to usurp his own father.

“Slander and calumny must always precede and accompany persecution, because malice itself cannot excite people against a good man, as such; to do this, he must first be represented as a bad man.” (Horne)

Preserve me from violent men - Those, who would have power at any cost, will talk of peace, but violence is easily justified for them. We see the temptation of David, that those close to him also encouraged him to take Saul's life, yet he refrained. We see the temptation of David with Bathsheba, wrought from his own heart, he tried first to cover it with deception, and then at the price of a good man's life. He did not refrain, but God also did not withhold justice, and the sword did not depart from David's house. History has brought us many a tyrant, Hitler, Stalin, communists of China and North Korea, holding that men are not made in the image of God, and therefore those in power, the state, may wipe out those who oppose or leave unaided those that they deep unfit, the survival of the fittest. Men have, in the name of Christ, Mohammad and a host of many other religious systems, deemed it right and just to take what they want in the name of their religion, whether Christian, Muslim, Hindu, or atheist.  

…30 Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm. 31 Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways; 32 for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.… Proverbs 3: 30-32

4 Jesus answered, “See to it that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come.… Matthew 24: 4-6

…9 I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.… John 10: 9-11

And under their lips is the venom of asps - They say the pen is mightier than the sword, and words are always what stirs, convinces and calls to war. Words are used to convince your friend that your enemy is his enemy, and truth is a hurdle the wicked refuse to be held back by. Words are cheap and deadly, for by many a man's words, the ignorant have been incited to enact the violence that the author could not do alone. 

…17 He who speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit. 18 Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.… Proverbs 12: 17-19

Who have planned to trip up my feet - Once they are no longer concerned about the truth, then they will look to cause you to stumble, and demand punishment for what they would not punish their own camp for. Every question is a snare, every statement is a trap, there is no time for context, no admission of evil in their desire, only your head, power, self exaltation. Lord, keep my feet from stumbling, let me give them no advantage that they may use to profane Your name. 

Let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them - God, grant that their own words be turned upon them. Open the eyes of those who have been watching, the ears of those who are listening, let them see the deceit and turn back in disgust. Let none be too proud to admit their wrong in following the wicked, and let that which the wicked have spoken be returned to them. 

…19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.… Romans 12: 19-21

And will execute justice for the needy - We have failed in this, in our time, we will speak very little on behalf of the needy, the oppressed, the defenseless, but their time will come, and God has kept His every word, there will be a reckoning.

…21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes. 22 Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.… John 5: 21-23