Title: “Deliver me and preserve me” Psalm 140
There are high-level prayers of saints (in the case of Stephen, Moses, and Paul), but there are also low-level prayers of sinners (in the case of publicans and robbers). The prayer of Psalm 140 is an extremely human and sincere prayer for God to deliver Himself from their enemies and to neutralize their attacks.
1. "Deliver me, O LORD, and preserve me" (1-5)
Of course, proper prayer must be in the right order and purpose. Jesus taught the order and content of prayer, saying, “Pray like this.” That is, in proper prayer, there must be praise, thanksgiving, repentance, intercession, supplication, etc., and there must be a blessing in pursuit of God's glory and will. However, when the situation is too urgent, the saints simply cry out, "Save me." As Peter was drowning, he cried out: “Lord, save me” (Matthew 14:30). When a great wave broke out in the sea, the disciples cried out like this. “Lord, save us, for we perish” (Matthew 7:25).
As David was being attacked by his enemies from all sides, he cried out with a single voice. "Deliver me, O LORD, preserve me; keep me, preserve me." Such prayers are not fundamentally wrong prayers. Jesus also said to pray, "Deliver us from evil." In addition, it is enough to pray, "God, I am a sinner. Deliver me and save me."
Here, David told God about the circumstances of his suffering, that is, the attacks and pains he received from people, with all sincerity. "They plot to harm their heart... Under their lips is the poison of vipers" (2:3). "Laying snare and cords to harm me" (5). It is sincere prayer to tell God all the circumstances of our suffering and attacks as they are.
2. "Listen to my supplication, O LORD" (6-11)
In the agony of being attacked by the enemy, David instead of counterattacking the perpetrator, he looked to God and prayed for God to hear his prayer (6). “Vengeance is mine, and I will repay,” God said (Romans 12:19; Deuteronomy 32:35). David left everything to God and prayed that God would hear his prayer. This is the best thing a suffering saint can do in the field of suffering.
David now specifically prayed that God would not fulfill the wishes or evil schemes of the wicked (8), and the evil words of the lips that the wicked vomited against him returned to them, and burning coals fell on them and fell into the midst of the fire and into the deep pit He prayed that disaster would come and destroy him. The prayer of this last part can be defended as a prayer from God's point of view, but it can also be called the incomplete prayer of the Old Testament saints who have not yet reached the place of forgiveness of Stephen.
3. "I know that the LORD avenges the afflicted..." (12-13)
A believer who prays for God's salvation in the midst of suffering and entrusts everything to God in prayer will have confidence in God's righteous rule and blessings. “I know” “I know” (Job 19:25). Knowing that God is the ruler of the world and the ruler who saves those who are suffering, he confesses that fact with power. And believe and confess that the praying saints will eventually thank the Lord and abide in the presence of the Lord.