Psalm 140 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Psalm 140 Short Summary:

Psalm 140 is a psalm of David in which he prays for the Lord to cause the schemes of the wicked to backfire. Violent, arrogant, crafty, sneaky, and godless men were threatening David, and David asked the Lord to protect him against all their cunning traps.

Psalm 140 Summary

AUTHOR:

• David wrote Psalm 140.

NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES:

• Romans 3:13

THEMES:

• David prays for protection and for the wicked schemes of sinful men to fail.

DEFINITIONS:

• Selah (140:3) – This word appears over 70 times in the Psalms. Scholars have tried for years to discover the true meaning of the word, but it remains somewhat of a mystery. Some scholars think it’s a musical pause or a literary pause, calling on the reader to stop and ponder what was just stated.  Other scholars propose its meaning is related to worship, an expression of praise to God. Still others suggest it’s a literary device used by the ancients to mark themes that run through the text. The only other book in the Bible where “Selah” is found is the book of Habakkuk.

• Asp (140:3) – A venomous snake.

OUTLINE:

• DON’T LET THE WICKED SUCCEED (140:1-13):

  • David’s prayer in Psalm 140 was for God to preserve him from wicked men who planned all kinds of evil against him and those around him.

  • These men were deplorable. David described them having sharp tongues and venom in their mouths.

  • David’s path was strewn with traps, snares, and hidden nets designed to trip him up.

  • In the face of these arrogant and violent men, David put his trust in God.

  • He asked the Lord to be a covering for his head in battles he would face.

  • He asked God to cause the schemes of the wicked to backfire, and to fall back on their heads like burning coals.

  • Rather than these evil men succeeding in hunting down the innocent, David prayed for the violence they intended to inflict on others to find them and dispose of them.  

  • David’s final statement in this psalm is one of confidence in the Lord’s protection. He wrote, “I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy. Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence” (140:12-13).

APPLICATION:

• David was the king of Israel and Judah.

• Can you imagine how hard it must be to be a king, president, senator, prime minister, or some other kind of important leader.

• I know we spend a lot of time criticizing those in power, but do we take time to consider the temptations they face?

• They are constantly interacting with people who are setting traps for them and laying hidden snares.

• They are surrounded by many two-faced people who are working angles for their own self-interest.

• Their work colleagues are often some of the most arrogant, and perhaps the most violent, people in the whole world.

• They have fake friends and bitter enemies close to them every day.

• Their lives are trickier than ours.

• Putting ourselves in their shoes, we can see a little more clearly why they need our prayers (1Tim 2:1-2).

• Yes, their lives come with privileges that we don’t have, but they also come with temptations that we don’t face.

• Let’s not neglect to pray for our leaders as the Lord instructs.