Psalm 141

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 141

David was in distress when he penned this psalm, pursued, it is most likely, by Saul, that violent man. Isa. any distressed? Let him pray; David did so, and had the comfort of it. I. He prays for God's favourable acceptance, Ps. 141:1, 2. II. For his powerful assistance, Ps. 141:3, 4. III. That others might be instrumental of good to his soul, as he hoped to be to the souls of others, Ps. 141:5, 6. IV. That he and his friends being now brought to the last extremity God would graciously appear... read more

Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 141:5-10

Here, I. David desires to be told of his faults. His enemies reproached him with that which was false, which he could not but complain of; yet, at the same time, he desired his friends would reprove him for that which was really amiss in him, particularly if there was any thing that gave the least colour to those reproaches (Ps. 141:5): let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness. The righteous God (so some); ?I will welcome the rebukes of his providence, and be so far from quarrelling... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 141

INTRODUCTION TO Psalm 141 A Psalm of David . This psalm was written about the same time, and upon the same occasion, as that going before and what follows after; even when David was persecuted by Saul, and when he was in great danger of his enemies, and snares were laid for his life. 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 141:3

Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth ,.... While praying, as Jarchi and Kimchi; that he might not utter any rash, unguarded, and unbecoming word; but take and use the words which God gives, even the taught words of the Holy Ghost; or lest, being under affliction and oppression, he should speak unadvisedly with his lips, and utter any impatient murmuring and repining word against God; or express any fretfulness at the prosperity of the wicked, or speak evil of them; especially of Saul, the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 141:4

Incline not my heart to any evil thing ,.... Or "evil word" F26 לדבר רע "ad verbum malum", Montanus. , as the Targum; since out of the abundance of that the mouth speaketh, Matthew 12:34 ; or to any sinful thing, to the commission of any evil action: not that God ever inclines men's hearts to sin by any physical influence, it being what is repugnant to his nature and will, and what he hates and abhors; for though he hardens the hearts of wicked men, and gives them up to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 141:5

Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness ,.... Or, "smite me in kindness" F1 εν ελεει , Sept. "in misericordia", V. L. "benigne ac clementer", Michaelis. . In love; in a loving and friendly manner, which makes reproofs the more agreeable and effectual. Not the righteous God, as Arama; though he does sometimes smite his people for their sins, Isaiah 57:17 ; that is, reproves, corrects, and chastises them, and that in love and for their good; and therefore such smitings... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 141:6

When their judges are overthrown in stony places ,.... The judges of David's adversaries, the workers of iniquity; meaning Saul, Abner, &c.; Arama refers this to Saul and his sons being slain on the mountains of Gilboa, 1 Samuel 31:1 ; which might be here prophetically spoken of. Or, as it is by some rendered, "when their judges are let down by the sides of the rock" F4 נשמטו בידי סלע "demittentur per loca saxosa", Tigurine version; "demissi sunt in manus petrae", Montanus;... read more

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