Psalms

Psalms 140: The LORD upholds the afflicted cause

Begin in prayer

Before David names the traps and poisonous words around him, let us bring God the harm we suffer and the harm our words cause. Ask Him to lead us to Jesus and teach us to trust His justice.

even the God who executes vengeance for me, who brings down peoples under me,

2 Samuel 22:48

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that the Lord maintains justice for the afflicted and needy while the righteous give thanks in His presence. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

David asks the Lord to rescue him from violent people whose hearts plan war and whose tongues carry a serpent's poison. The proud have placed traps along his path to make him fall. Calling God his saving strength, he remembers how the Lord covered his head in battle and asks Him to stop the wicked plans. His prayer asks their own harmful speech to cover them, with burning coals, fire and pits ending their power to rise. The evil speaker will not be established, and evil will hunt down the violent man. David knows the Lord will maintain the afflicted cause and the needy person's justice, while the upright give thanks and dwell in His presence.

As you read Psalms 140, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD maintains justice for the afflicted and needy, overthrowing evil while the righteous give thanks in His presence.

The violence begins within devising hearts and comes through poisoned words as well as hidden traps. Romans 3 verse 13 quotes the poison under the lips while declaring the guilt of sinful people. David asks preservation from plans meant to trip his feet and confesses the God who has already covered his head in battle. That remembered protection supports a new plea against desires whose success would feed wicked pride. The judgment he requests turns harmful speech back upon its speakers and names fire and pits from which they never rise. Evil speech has no secure future, and the violent person's own evil will hunt him down. David's confidence rests on the Lord maintaining the cause of the afflicted and justice for the needy. The final picture gives the righteous thankful life in God's presence, placing the threatened servant's hope beyond the traps around him.

How does Psalm 140 show us that the LORD maintains justice for the afflicted and needy, overthrowing evil while the righteous give thanks in His presence?

The LORD is sought for protection from violent plans and poisonous speech.

David names scheming hearts, sharpened tongues and hidden snares. He calls the Lord his God and saving strength. Past protection in battle gives him reason to ask preservation again.

The LORD's justice gives evil words and violent people a dreadful end.

David asks that harmful speech return upon the speakers. Fire and pits picture judgment from which they do not rise. Evil will hunt the violent man, and the evil speaker will not stand secure.

The LORD maintains the needy cause and receives the righteous in His presence.

David knows God will act for the afflicted and needy. The righteous will answer with thanks to His name. The upright will dwell in His presence, giving the threatened servant a settled hope.

Memorise

I know that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy.

Psalm 140:12

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what poisonous word must I confess to the just Lord Jesus?

David knows, “Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted”. He asks the Lord to overthrow violent plans and poisoned speech. The final hope gives the upright a place in God's presence.

Our own harmful words and sinful plans leave us guilty before this just Judge. Jesus died for His people, accepting God's judgment against their harmful words and sinful plans to establish their peace with Him. He rose victorious. His completed sacrifice has paid their whole debt, securing forgiveness for sins they could never undo.

Turn from sinful speech and trust Jesus Christ. Everyone who calls on Him in faith receives forgiveness. Confess the words you have used to wound, and ask Him to make your speech truthful and kind. Those who belong to Him can bring their affliction to their living Lord, who will uphold justice and keep them in His presence.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God upholds the needy and judges the evil people who use violence and poisoned words. Verses 9 and 10 ask dreadful judgment, with harmful speech returning on its speakers and fire and pits ending their power. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus. Pray for their new hearts, because growing up in a Christian home cannot save them.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Ask God to stop evil plans, uphold the needy cause and give truthful speech and thankful confidence. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

John 15:6

Just Lord, please uphold those trapped by violence and defend the cause of the needy. Forgive the harmful words and plans we have excused, and bring us to Jesus for the pardon His sacrifice provides. Teach our children truthful speech and compassion for the afflicted. Stop wicked schemes and give Your people thankful confidence in the presence Your Son has opened to them. Amen.