(3) Watch.—The image drawn from the guard set at city gates at night seems to indicate the evening as the time of composition of the psalm.Door of my lips.—Comp. “doors of thy mouth” (Micah 7:5), and so in Euripides, πύλαι στόματος. For the probable motive of the prayer, see Introduction. The poet’s feeling is that of Xenocrates: “I have often repented of having spoken, but never of having been silent.” read more
Our Words Psalms 141:3 The occasion which called forth the Psalm was no doubt the rebellion of David's son, Absalom. And it may be that in a fit of penitential grief for the hard things he has said, he calls upon God to make him more careful in the future. I. First, the careless word. Be on your guard against this. You spoke lightly, may be, of the Saviour's Name on some occasion. You spoke slightingly of religion. Some child or little one in the kingdom, some weak one just entering in,... read more
Psalms 141:1-10PART of this psalm is hopelessly obscure, and the connection is difficult throughout. It is a prayer of a harassed soul, tempted to slacken its hold on God, and therefore betaking itself to Him. Nothing more definite as to author or occasion can be said with certainty.The allusions in Psalms 141:6-7 are dark to us, and the psalm must, in many parts, remain an enigma. Probably Baethgen and Cheyne are wise in giving up the attempt to extract any intelligible meaning from Psalms... read more
Psalm 140-142 These three Psalms are Psalms of David. The third one in this series, 142 is another Maschil, the last Maschil Psalm, being a prayer when David was in the cave. In these Psalms the distress of Israel, the godly remnant of Israel, is again remembered. In Psalms 140:1-13 we see prophetically the evil and violent man, that man of sin of the last days. And therefore have we one more imprecatory prayer for the destruction of the wicked (verse 10). The last verses look forward to the... read more
141:3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; {c} keep the door of my lips.(c) He desires God to keep his thoughts and ways either from thinking or executing vengeance. read more
Psalms 135:0 Praises God for choosing Jacob (Psalms 135:1-4 ), extols His power in the natural world (Psalms 135:5-7 ), and in the deliverance of His people from Egypt (Psalms 135:8-9 ) and bringing them into the promised land (Psalms 135:10-12 ). All this is in contrast to the vanity of idols (Psalms 135:13-18 ). Psalms 136:0 Is of the same character as the preceding, but is notable for the chorus attached to each verse a chorus with which we have become familiar in other psalms (Psalms 106:1... read more
How earnest is a child of God, that he should act and live as becometh a child of God. He knows full well, that unless the Lord keep the heart, the lips will utter foolishness. And when the Lord disposeth the soul, the lips will praise him. Job 23:4-6 . read more
Pour out. Explaining all the sentiments of my heart, Psalm lxi. 9. (Calmet) --- This is never perfectly done with earthly friends, 1 Peter v. 7. (Berthier) read more
1-4 Make 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 God as the daily sacrifices and burnings of incense were of old. Prayer is a spiritual sacrifice, it is the offering up the soul and its best affections. Good men know the evil of tongue sins. When enemies are provoking, we are in danger of speaking unadvisedly. While we live... read more
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John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 141:1-10
An evening prayer in time of trouble. The Psalmist prays that he may be strengthened to resist temptation, and so escape the fate of evil men.2. Be set forth] lit. ’raise itself,’ like the smoke of incense. 5. Correction from friends is desirable. An excellent oil, which shall not break my head] RV ’as oil upon the head; let not my head refuse it.’ For yet, etc.] ’for still my prayer is against their wrong-doing.’6. An obscure verse. ’When their judges are flung headlong by the sides of the... read more