…Preserve us from the violent man
September 5th: REVISITING PSALMS 140
ELUL, OUR 29 DAY BANQUET OF PRAYER… TO HONOR THE KING OF GLORY! ELUL, The Month of The Search… Praying The Lord’s Prayer IN HEBREW & ENGLISH
There’s annotation in the Book of Psalms – (Interlinear Translation, The Schottenstein Edition by Mesorah) that is prefaced before Psalm 140 that reads, “A person who feels powerless to combat the evil and deceit that threaten to engulf them must place his trust in GOD.”
It leads with a message that tell us, “The venom of a spider is under it’s lips, Selah. They spin webs with their deceitful tongue. Which paints quite the picture of the venomous foes we deal with on occasion. That person who puts on a pretense of working with you or getting along, only to strike in silence when unseen.
At the same time, our own tongues can be so unruly, so lethal… poison can also reside under our very own lips.
On the other hand, the snakes tongue passes through a notch on their lip. This allows for the tongue to pass out of their mouth without ever having to open their mouths. Mirroring another enemy that comes against us. One whose mouth we may never see open against us, but whose tongue is quick to strike and leaves a deadly trail of lies, innuendo, accusations, that undermine and destroy reputations.
Living so out of touch with nature, can place us at a great disadvantage. We could learn so much by watching the behaviors of various creatures, they could actually improve our wisdom and knowledge of mankind. At the very least, we can see parallels.
David captures these parallels in many of his songs, such as this one, which I believe are for the purpose of heightening our observations skills in order to increase our discernment. Nature is a useful tool for this purpose.
Let’s Pray.
PSALM 140
Deliver us, O Lord (YHVH), from the evil man: preserve us from the violent man;
2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.
4 Keep us, O Lord (YHVH), from the hands of the wicked; preserve us from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow our goings.
5 The proud have hid a snare for us, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for us. Selah.
6 We said unto the Lord (YHVH), Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O Lord (YHVH).
7 O God the Lord (YHVH), the strength of our salvation, thou hast covered our head in the day of battle.
8 Grant not, O Lord (YHVH), the desires of the wicked: further not their wicked devices; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
9 As for the head of those that compass round about us, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
Cause the heads of those who rise up against me, that spread deadly poison against my career, my reputation, my family, my name, my friends, etc. let them be buried by their own poison of their own wicked devices.
10 Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
11 Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
12 We know that the Lord (YHVH) will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.
Those that live to serve wicked purposes, those that lie, deceive, evade truth have no cause to give thanks to You. Those that serve you with one side of their mouth and abuse Your People with the other side, are only deceiving themselves and those that follow them.
We ask you to release their prisoners LORD. Those that have been poisoned with lies, those that have been blinded by the pretense of loyalty, kindness, integrity, honor. Reveal the mischief in their hearts, for every noose they have hung for Your People, let them fall by the trap they have set for us (Book of Esther).
Save us from the violent and treacherous kind, that lay in wait. We give praise to You LORD, for You maintain the cause of the afflicted, and uphold the right hand of the poor. The righteous give thanks unto Your Name, and shall dwell in Your Presence Forever!
AMEN
