Psalm 140:1-8 “For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. Deliver me, LORD, from evil men. Preserve me from violent men: those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper’s poison is under their lips. Selah. LORD, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet. The proud have hidden a snare for me, they have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me. Selah. I said to the LORD, ‘You are my God.’ Listen to the cry of my petitions, LORD. LORD, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle. LORD, don’t grant the desires of the wicked. Don’t let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah.”

Wicked and violent people don’t just desire to physically hurt God’s people. They lie and slander, and they set traps. Are these metaphorical or physical traps that David is referring to? For us, I think it’s a reminder that people will try to get us to blaspheme and sin against our Lord. “Why hasn’t He come back yet?” “Why are you suffering if God really cares?” “What good does it do to follow God?” Perhaps we should take to heart the example of Jesus in the Lord’s prayer:

Matthew 6:13 “Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Doesn’t David’s prayer seem like a longer version of that?!?!?

For additional worship: My Father Watches Over Me