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Psalms 141

10 verses

TL;DR

The Psalm is a heartfelt plea for God’s protection, a request to be guided away from evil, and an affirmation of trust in divine justice.

Summary

The psalmist calls on the Lord to listen and hasten to His aid, comparing the prayer to incense and the lifting of hands to an evening offering. He asks God to guard his words, keep his heart from wickedness, and to be guided away from sinful influences. He expresses willingness to be corrected by the righteous, viewing their discipline as a form of kindness. The psalmist hopes that the wicked’s judgments will fail, that they will hear his words, and that God will protect him from snares set by evildoers. He trusts in God’s salvation, even amid scattered bones and grave echoes, and asks that the wicked fall into their own traps while he escapes. The tone balances earnest supplication with confidence in God’s justice.

Outline
  1. Supplication for divine hearing and protection
  2. Self-examination and request for guidance away from evil
  3. Expectation that righteous correction and divine judgment will prevail
Themes
Prayer and divine listeningGuarding the heart and avoiding sinTrust in God’s justice and protection
Keywords
prayerincensewatchrighteouswickednetjudgesGodprotection
People
LordI (the psalmist)the righteousthe wickedjudges
Places
gravestony places
Things
incenseevening sacrificewatchdoor of lipsoilnets
Key Verses
  • Psalms 141:1: The opening cry establishes the psalm’s urgent tone and the plea for swift divine response.
  • Psalms 141:3: Highlights the request for God to guard the psalmist’s words, a key theme of personal spiritual discipline.
  • Psalms 141:5: Shows the psalmist’s view of righteous correction as beneficial, linking to the theme of divine justice.
  • Psalms 141:10: Summarizes the psalmist’s hope that the wicked are caught in their own snares while he escapes.
Questions
  • What specific steps does the psalmist suggest for guarding his heart from wickedness?
  • How does the imagery of incense and evening sacrifice help us understand ancient prayer practices?
  • In what ways does the psalmist’s view of righteous correction reflect his relationship with the community?
  • What can we learn from the contrast between the wicked’s snares and the psalmist’s desire for protection?
Sentiment

mixed
The psalm blends earnest supplication with confidence in divine justice.