Walk Of Life – Day 06, March 2023 – Thoughts From The Book Of Psalms

Psalm 140 – Voice Of Affliction

This psalm of David is addressed to the Chief Musician who was responsible for the public worship in his time. Asaph, Jeduthan and Heman were the leaders appointed by David who would lead the choir to worship in the house of the LORD with cymbals, stringed instruments and harps (1 Chronicles 6:33; 16:4-7: 25:6). The theme is similar to many of David’s other psalms, in which he cried out to God in a time of trouble. This trouble seems to be slander against him, perhaps when he was a fugitive escaping from Saul’s court.

This psalm can be divided into four parts:

• Prayer for help (1-5) –We all know that nothing is hidden from God, one might think that prayer is made only for blessing or to ask for something you want. While He certainly is our Jehovah-Jireh, He play much more role in your life in the form of a friend who understands and can empathize with your emotional and spiritual distress. When you are going through a rough patch in a relationship or when because of your circumstances, you are facing spiritual disconnect with God, do not think that He will reject you. Pray and confess your condition to him, you will be surprised how He will heal and change your situation even without you realizing it. It is when you don’t pray, you lose all your peace.
• An expression of confidence in God (6, 7) – As you pray, you will be strengthened and will become more confident of your deliverance because of your renewed faith in Christ.
•  Appeal against enemies (8-11) –David knew many literal battles, but he also lived through many battles with lying and slanderous men. He testified that the wicked may arrogantly desire, plan, and execute; but the Master of the universe cannot tolerate anarchy for long. To this end the plea changes into an imprecatory prayer. David was hunted as a rebel, Christ was crucified as a blasphemer and the primitive Christians were tortured as guilty of incest and murder. You too might face some sort of rejection in your work or social circles, people might hate you for your faith or be judgemental of your errors, don’t be discouraged, God is in control and He will not let the wicked prevail for a long time.
• An expression of faith that God hears our prayers (12, 13) – David remained confident that God would defend His afflicted people. This would mean justice for the poor and others who suffer from the words and works of wicked men.

  “If sorrow is a certainty, so also is the action of Jehovah. Sorrow and darkness come to all men, but only those who know God and are sure of Him, make suffering, and the night, occasions of triumphant psalmody.” G. Campbell Morgan