Click here to read PSALM 141 in poetic form.
Background
Psalm 141 is in the Deuteronomy Book of the Psalms (Psalms 107-150). These 44 Psalms, like the Book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament, show God’s Word as the source of salvation, deliverance, and healing. This would be fully carried out in the life of the coming Messiah, the living Word, Jesus Christ. Psalm 141 shows the Messiah’s cry for the Lord’s protection and deliverance, and his trust in the Lord’s salvation.
Structure
(Verses 1,2) Messiah’s cry to the Lord
(Verses 3,4) Prayer for protection from the traps of those who work iniquity
(Verses 5-7) Prayer for deliverance from the wicked and their deeds
(Verse 8) Messiah’s cry to the Lord
(Verse 9) Prayer for protection from the traps of those who work iniquity
(Verse 10) Prayer for deliverance from the wicked and their deeds
Key Scriptures
Verse 2—“Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” References here are to worshipping God in the tabernacle and temple. Jesus Christ’s entire life, like incense upon the altar, was a “sweet savor” to the Lord. Ephesians 5:2: “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
Now, with Christ in us, we too are a sweet savor in this world. II Corinthians 2:14,15: “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish.”
Verse 6—“When their judges [rulers] are overthrown in stony places [upon the rock], they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.” The rulers and judges of the earth stumbled at the Christ (see Isaiah 8:14; Romans 9:32,33; I Peter 2:8). Psalm 141:6 is similar to Psalm 2:2, which the Apostle Peter quotes in Acts 4:26: “The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. Jesus Christ is the foundation stone that God provided for mankind. Those who magnify themselves against him will be ashamed. Romans 9:33: “As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
Verse 9—“Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.” The word “gin” in the King James Version is a shortened form of the word “engine,” and refers to traps or snares “engineered” by the wicked one.
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader.
The Background, Structure, and Key Scriptures for all 150 Psalms are available from Amazon in a book The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
