Thy Strong Word – Psalm 141. Keep praying saints: Let my prayer rise before you as incense

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Rev. Shawn Kumm, Christ the King Lutheran Church, Cody, Wyoming joins Rev. Brady Finnern to study and pray Psalm 141.

“Hurry, listen to me!” David pleads with the LORD. It is clear that David trusted in the LORD to not only hear him, but will answer. He asks the LORD to protect him from breaking His commands by His words, actions, and thoughts—and God provides a way. We should pray in the same way because we are tempted to fall into evil delicacies and by His grace, He will preserve us and pull our eyes back to Himself. “LORD God, help me to pray. Listen to me, for temptations surround me. Bring my eyes, heart, and ears back to You and preserve me in Your grace. Amen”

Thy Strong Word reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations.

Thy Strong Word is hosted by Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, MN, and graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation.

Psalm 141

Give Ear to My Voice

A Psalm of David.

141 O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
keep watch over the door of my lips!
4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil,
to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who work iniquity,
and let me not eat of their delicacies!

5 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;
let my head not refuse it.
Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
6 When their judges are thrown over the cliff,[a]
then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.
7 As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.[b]

8 But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;
in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless![c]
9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me
and from the snares of evildoers!
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I pass by safely.

Footnotes

Psalm 141:6 Or When their judges fall into the hands of the Rock

Psalm 141:7 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 6, 7 is uncertain

Psalm 141:8 Hebrew refuge; do not pour out my life!

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv.org