Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

Psalm 140. This individual lament serves the needs of people under threat from ungodly people who intend serious harm (cf. Psalms 5; 35; 54; 56; 59; 69; 70; 71; 109). The psalm does not clarify whether these ungodly people are Israelites, but this is the most likely identification in a psalm of David. This psalm, in praying for protection (140:1-5) and expressing trust (vv. 6-8), also prays for the defeat of these enemies (vv. 9-11) and looks forward to God's display of his justice (vv. 12-13).

140:1-5 Deliver Me from the Plots of the Wicked! The basic request is clear from the verbs deliver (v. 1), preserve (vv. 1, 4), and guard (v. 4). The threat is from evil men, who are further defined as violent men and the arrogant, who plan evil things. These enemies prefer wickedness to godliness, and they pose a serious danger to the faithful.