Psalm Chapter 141

A Psalm of David.

Psalm 141:1 LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

We see a reference to the lifting up hands in worship. Lifting up hands when one worships or prays is a sign of submission or surrender to the Lord. He is asking God to hear when he lifts up his voice and cries in worship. He desires his prayers to be as when the priest offers incense during a sacrifice that was required in Israel when they lived under the law given by Moses at the instruction of God.

1Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

We see this gesture of worship in both the Old and New Testaments. To me this should not be pushed on the congregations but allowed and not frowned upon. I like to see people worship in the way they are comfortable without feeling intimidated if they are a little different. New converts and people who are from more formal churches may feel uncomfortable raising hands at first. I get a blessing out of seeing someone spontaneously lifting up their hands in worship who was not in the habit of doing so previously. I prefer spontaneous worship rather than having everything planned out but some might prefer more orderly services. Yielding and obeying the Holy Spirit is the important thing.

Psalm 141:3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.

This is a verse for all of us. We need to pray this daily especially if we work or go to school among those that like to irritate people.

Psalm 141:4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

We must avoid allowing ourselves to be tempted to compromise our beliefs in order to please those around us including not desiring their feasts and gifts. I wonder how many of us would hide our faith in Jesus Christ if we happen to have a boss that was an atheist and we badly needed a raise. Something to think about.

Psalm 141:5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

How happy are we if we subject ourselves to correction by our friends and not get angry with them. If we have a friend that agrees with us all the time, it may not be a true friend. Encourage truth among friendships. They may see something we don't see. It's always good to consider another point of view and not assume that we know everything. I write these bible studies daily but I still seek out knowledge among my brothers and sisters in the Lord who write articles on the Internet just in case I might have missed something.

Psalm 141:6 When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
7 Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.

A sign of hopelessness if not for the fact that he trusted in the Lord.

Psalm 141:8 But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
9 Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.

We should continually seek the Lord in times of trouble instead of looking to man for help. Our real source is God, our salvation is in God and He is the only one with the right solutions to whatever befalls us. I truly believe that the word of God is the answer for any problem we may face. -DC

Psalm 142

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