Psalm 141:1-10
Let My Prayer Be Set Before You
1A Psalm of David. I call upon You, O LORD; come quickly to me. Hear my voice when I call to You.
2May my prayer be set before You like incense; my uplifted hands, like the evening offering.
3Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.
4Do not let my heart be drawn to any evil thing or take part in works of wickedness with men who do iniquity; let me not feast on their delicacies.
5Let the righteous man strike me; let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion. It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. For my prayer is ever against the deeds of the wicked.
6When their rulers are thrown down from the cliffs, the people will listen to my words, for they are pleasant.
7As when one plows and breaks up the soil, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol.
8But my eyes are fixed on You, O GOD the Lord. In You I seek refuge; do not leave my soul defenseless.
9Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, and from the lures of evildoers.
10Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety.
Berean Standard Bible
David calls quickly to the LORD and asks that his prayer be set before God like incense and his lifted hands like the evening offering. He wants worship to be joined to the words he speaks and the life he lives.
He asks God to set a guard over his mouth and watch the door of his lips. He would rather be corrected by the righteous than receive the false kindness of the wicked. The prayer recognizes how easily speech becomes a gateway to harmful desire.
David asks not to join the wicked in their feasting and asks God to keep his eyes fixed on Him. The final request is for protection from the traps of evildoers while he passes by safely.
Questions
1 What does David compare his prayer to?
AnswerHe compares it to incense set before God and his lifted hands to the evening offering.
2 What does he ask God to guard?
AnswerHe asks God to guard his mouth and watch the door of his lips.
3 What kind of correction does David prefer?
AnswerHe prefers the righteous person's correction to the false kindness of the wicked.
4 What does he ask about traps?
AnswerHe asks God to keep him from the traps of evildoers and let him pass safely.
What This Means for Us
Prayer can include a request about the mouth before a request about the enemy. Ask what your own words are opening.
Correction may be a form of kindness when it keeps us from a trap. Receive it with discernment rather than equating comfort with love.
Prayer
LORD, receive our prayers and guard our mouths. Send truthful correction, keep us from harmful company and hidden traps, and let our worship agree with our conduct. Amen.