Psalm 141:1-2 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 141:1-4

Mercy to accept what we do well, and grace to keep us from doing ill, are the two things which we are here taught by David's example to pray to God for. I. David loved prayer, and he begs of God that his prayers might be heard and answered, Ps. 141:1, 2. David cried unto God. His crying denotes fervency in prayer; he prayed as one in earnest. His crying to God denotes faith and fixedness in prayer. And what did he desire as the success of his prayer? 1. That God would take cognizance of it:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 141:1

Lord, I cry unto thee ,.... With great earnestness, importunity, and fervency, being in distress; and knowing vain was the help of man, and that none could deliver him but the Lord, and therefore continued crying unto him for help F23 "Auxilium vocat, et duros conclamat agrestes", Virgil. ; make haste unto me ; which shows he was in a desperate condition; that he could not help himself, nor could any creature, only the Lord; and he was at a distance from him, as it seemed to him,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 141:2

Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense ,.... Which was offered every morning on the altar of incense, at which time the people were praying, Exodus 30:1 ; and was an emblem of it, even of pure, holy, and fervent prayer; which being offered on the altar Christ, which sanctifies every gift, and by him the High Priest; through whom every sacrifice is acceptable unto God; and through whose blood and righteousness, and the sweet incense of his mediation and intercession, it becomes... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 141:1

Lord, I cry unto thee - Many of David's Psalms begin with complaints; but they are not those of habitual plaint and peevishness. He was in frequent troubles and difficulties, and he always sought help in God. He ever appears in earnest; at no time is there any evidence that the devotion of David was formal. He prayed, meditated, supplicated, groaned, cried, and even roared, as he tells us, for the disquietude of his soul. He had speedy answers; for he had much faith, and was always in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 141:2

As incense - Incense was offered every morning and evening before the Lord, on the golden altar, before the veil of the sanctuary. Exodus 29:39 , and Numbers 28:4 . As the evening sacrifice - This was a burnt-offering, accompanied with flour and salt. But it does not appear that David refers to any sacrifice, for he uses not זבח zebach , which is almost universally used for a slaughtered animal; but מנחה minchah , which is generally taken for a gratitude-offering or unbloody... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 141:1

Verse 1 1.O Jehovah! I have cried unto thee. From such an exordium and manner of praying, it is evident that David was laboring under no small trial, as he repeats his requests, and insists upon receiving help. Without venturing to say anything definite upon the point, we would not disapprove of the conjecture that this Psalm was written by David with reference to the persecutions he suffered from Saul. He teaches us by his example to make application immediately to God, and not be tempted, as... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 141:2

Verse 2 In the second verse the allusion is evidently to the legal ceremonies. (235) At that time the prayers of God’s people were according to his own appointment sanctified through the offering up of incense and sacrifices, and David depended upon this promise. (236) As to the conjecture some have made, that he was at this time an exile, and cut off from the privileges of the religious assembly, nothing certain can be said upon that point; their idea being that there is a tacit antithesis in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 141:1

Lord, 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 unto thee (comp. Psalms 102:2 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 141:1

The 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 beset by enemies; David censured even by saints, and taking it kindly; David deploring the condition of the godly party, of whom he was the acknowledged head; David waiting upon God with confident expectation." The point before us now is brought out by the Revised Version,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 141:1-10

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... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 141:1-4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 141:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 141:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 141:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 141:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 141:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 141:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 141:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 141:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 141:1-10

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