[Biblemat] S>Series on the Psalms #141

[Jeff S. Smith]

Psalm 141: Make Haste to Me!
a gospel sermon by J.S. Smith

Introduction
i. Psalm 141 is David’s lament regarding his hopes of being delivered  
from temptation and the danger that comes from the wicked who  
sometimes seek to destroy our faith, but other times simply seek to  
teach us compromise.
ii. [Read Psalm 141:1-10.]
iii. We often are heard to pray that God would guard, guide and  
direct us and this psalm is written with that same sentiment in mind.

Discussion
I. The Text
	A. Guard, Guide and Direct Me (1-5)
		1. Psalm 141 is a spiritually sensitive poem written by a man who  
was targeted by evil people, but did not want to sink to their level  
in seeking retribution
		2. if the best revenge is living well, David had cornered the  
market, with the near exception coming when Nabal the fool offended him
		3. David’s hope in the midst of all his trials was that he would  
simply be pleasing to God; perhaps that helps to explain the depth of  
his remorse when he realized what he done to Uriah the Hittite
		4. David had been straightened out by a courageous friend named  
Nathan who wisely rebuked him so that he might repent and sustain his  
relationship to God, and in this psalm, David dedicates himself to  
accepting such reproofs from righteous men who would strike his head  
with the excellent oil of correction
			a. in essence, his prayer is that God would help him guard his  
mouth from wicked speech and his heart from evil ideas
			b. as much as David was tormented by his foes, he desperately  
wanted to keep away from hypocrisy by doing unto them what they had  
done unto him

	B. Deliver Me (6-10)
		1. one of the truest restraints against sin is the fear of eternal  
punishment, which David applies to his evil enemies, but in our age,  
most believe that Hell is reserved for only the vilest offenders and  
that even atheists and the apathetic will earn Heaven by virtue of  
their charity or lack of criminal record
		2. David took no refuge in the false hope that he might earn a  
place beside God based on merit or that he might escape God’s  
attention by flying below his radar; his refuge lay in his faith  
where his soul was never left destitute or wandering through snares
		3. while David hoped for his own deliverance, he likewise wished  
for his enemies to fall into their own nets

II. Some Applications
	A. Prayer is Like Incense
		1. many psalms are very much like prayers and Psalm 141 is  
certainly that; in fact, many of the psalms, hymns and spiritual  
songs that we sing today are clearly set forth as a petition to God
		2. David’s hope is that his prayer song will rise up to God like  
sweet incense and the evening sacrifice
			a. the people of that day were accustomed to burning incense with  
their sacrifices (Exodus 29:38-41)
			b. according to Exodus 30:34, the sweet incense used in the  
tabernacle service was concoction of spices, perfumes and  
frankincense, and the law clearly prohibited the offering of any  
“strange incense on this altar” (9)
			c. in the offering of incense, burning coals from the altar of  
burnt offering were carried in a censer and then placed upon the  
altar of incense as the fragrant incense was sprinkled upon the fire,  
making for an aromatic environment for worship as the smelly smoke rose
		3. animal sacrifice is completely absent from New Testament  
worship, but the imagery they created persists, especially in the  
death of Christ and dedication of disciples
			a. death of Christ (Hebrews 10:1-4, 11-14)
			b. dedication of disciples (Colossians 3:1-7)
		4. the burning of sweet-smelling incense was figuratively applied  
as well to the works of faith done by believers
			a. a life that gratefully imitates Christ is sweet to his father  
(Ephesians 5:1-4)
			b. sharing is a sacrifice that creates a sweeter environment as  
well (Philippians 4:15-20)
		5. just before the angel of the Lord appeared to Zacharias, “the  
whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of  
incense” (Luke 1:10)
			a. perhaps the pleasant atmosphere and rising smoke well  
illustrated the sweetness of prayer, for that image returns  
throughout the New Testament (Revelation 5:8, 8:3)
			b. the prayers that you speak are like bowls of incense, burned  
before God and rising up to his throne
			c. “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of  
praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His  
name” (Hebrews 13:15)

	B. Learning Their Ways
		1. David’s prayer in this psalm was that he would resist learning  
the ways of his enemies, imitating them to gain advantage or revenge  
or to satisfy the lusts of his soul
		2. chances are that most of our friends, classmates and coworkers  
are going to possess a lower level of religious dedication and moral  
conviction than do we, possibly allowing for immodest dress, a little  
salty language, occasional sexual immorality, skipping worship and so on
			a. the temptation is to accept that influence in small doses or to  
aspire to gain maturity, popularity or acceptance according to  
fictional standards from television programs, movies and magazines
			b. it takes maturity to be your own person, or rather God’s  
person, and care not who is displeased, but that means standing up  
for your convictions without any spirit of compromise, no matter how  
insignificant or temporary it might seem (Hebrews 5:12-14)
		3. exercise your senses to discern right from wrong and “if sinners  
entice you, Do not consent” (Proverbs 1:10)
		4. “Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do  
not go, Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your  
soul” (Proverbs 22:24-25).
		5. keep watch over who is having the influence in your  
relationships and in your entertainment choices; is it you or the  
less spiritual one? (1 Corinthians 15:33-34)?

	C. Let The Righteous Strike Me
		1. the language is shocking, yet genuine – David says, “Let the  
righteous strike me” in Psalm 141, for he is thinking about the blows  
of rebuke which come raining down upon the one has gone wayward
			a. David reasons that such reproof is painful in the moment, but  
is of such lasting benefit that he can compare it to being anointed  
with excellent oil
			b. that makes for an interesting application of rebuke in the New  
Testament, especially if spiritual weariness and sickness are under  
consideration (James 5:13-16, 19-20)
		2. rebuke is like the anointing of oil upon a receptive head, for  
it brings back vigor and vitality (cf. Matthew 6:17), yet it often  
feels more like being struck upon the head as David acknowledged
			a. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an  
enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:6)
			b. anybody who has any interest in going to heaven is going to  
have to adopt David’s attitude about correction and accept the  
reproofs of righteous men as oil rather than blows
			c. “As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of  
his friend” (Proverbs 27:17).

	D. Refuge
		1. David closes this psalm by identifying God as his refuge, even  
though his enemies were bound to come crashing down over the cliffs  
of despair
		2. the sons of Korah sang that “God is our refuge and strength, A  
very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1)
		3. prayer might be the last refuge of a scoundrel, but it is the  
first impulse of the righteous man when he feels himself imperiled or  
in guilt; “In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And  
His children will have a place of refuge” (Proverbs 14:26).
			a. there is an undeniable, but often overlooked connection between  
this genuine reverence for God and the effectiveness of prayer
			b. some want to live in the flesh and still expect God to hang on  
their every prayer when they get around to it, but their investment  
in him and in prayer is so hypocritical that it becomes futile
			c. for your prayer to be effective, it must be rooted not only in  
the fervor of a moment of desperation, but the spirituality of a  
righteous lifestyle (see James 5:16)
			d. sincere penitence is a part of that and that part most often  
overlooked when irreligious people find themselves in dire straits
		4. the concept of refuge here is much more permanent than simply  
finding temporary port in a storm (Hebrews 6:17-19)
		5. “The wicked is banished in his wickedness, But the righteous has  
a refuge in his death” (Proverbs 14:32).

Conclusion
Psalm 141 is David’s reasonable hope for refuge in prayer that God  
would guide, guard and direct him.




Jeff S. Smith
Jeff Smith is the preacher for the Woodmont church of Christ and  
publisher of ElectronicGospel and its biweekly podcast. Jeff is also  
the Program Director and Head Coach of Burleson Youth Association  
Buddy Ball. The contents of this email are personal and private.  
Please do not forward this communication, in whole or in part, to  
anyone without my express consent.

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