Psalm 141 - Set a guard

Read: Psalm 141 vs 1-10

When I was studying to become a minister as part of our course we had to write a ‘dissertation’. It was a 20,000 word project on a particular subject or part of the Bible. I chose 1 and 2 Samuel, which tell the story of David. Over a period of a number of months I remember working closely through these books and being fascinated by stories from David’s life that I had never really known before. 

The final chapter of 2 Samuel tells the story of how David set out to count all the ‘fighting men’ who he could call on for support throughout the land of Israel. It seems a harmless thing to do, but it is pictured as an act of pride, and God was angry with David. Suddenly David finds himself facing God’s judgment and God gives him three options as to how he will be punished. He can suffer three years of famine, three months of fleeing from enemies or three days of plague. What will David choose? Interesting David doesn’t choose instead he places himself in God’s hands, willing to submit to whatever punishment God feels is appropriate.

This story reminds us that David is not perfect, but David has a humble heart, and even though pride at times got the better of him, it’s to this humility that he returns time and again. Today we read Psalm 141, and in it we see David humility at work. He prays that God will guard the words that he speaks (vs 3), he prays that God will keep him from sin (vs 4). He is open to receiving a rebuke when that is what he needs.

In Psalm 141 we meet someone who is not self-confident, but rather some one who is God confident. This is what we are called to, and in this Psalm David models the way:

‘But my eyes are fixed on you, ‘Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge – do not give me over to death.’ (vs 8).

Prayer: Lord help me to live each day not confident in my character or my strength or my wisdom. Help me rather to live each day, and this day, confident in You, with my eyes fixed on You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.