Let a Righteous Man Strike Me – Psalm 141

There is a strange “delicacy” being offered the righteous by those who would also seem to be righteous.  They are fighting, we are told, for the soul of our nation.  They are fighting for God!  But their words are words of scorn, their words are words of hatred and despite for fellow men.  They curse, and make malicious signs, and laugh at their own ugliness of spirit and conversation.  Keep us from the trap, Lord.

A Psalm of David.

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

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!  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!

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.  When their judges are thrown over the cliff, then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.  As when one plows and breaks up the earth, so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!  Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me and from the snares of evildoers!  Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.  (Psalm 141 ESV)

Our enemy does not always win by show of force against us.  Sometimes he wins by seducing us with the delicacies of iniquity.  We need to pray and not faint.  We must ask God to keep our hearts and lips from evil and from the influence of evil people.  We must be ready to accept the rebuke of those faithful to God if need be.  We must keep our eyes focused on Him, our refuge, who can see the traps set for us better than we can.  May our prayers rise to Him like the sweet aroma of the incense of the evening sacrifice.