Ps 141:1-10, David's Model Prayer

Psalm 141:1–2 (ESV) —
1 O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!


• As background, there was an evening offering (approx 3pm or the 9th hour). I'm not completely sure about the incense as it relates to timing since it was continually burning in the Most Holy Place
• In Revelation, it is describe in two ways, one as the prayers of the saints and the other as "with" the prayers of the saints
• Revelation 5:8 (ESV) — 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
• Revelation 8:3–4 (ESV) — 3 And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4 and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.
• It occurs 11 time as fragrant incense in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers
• A pleasing aroma is usually in reference to a burnt offering (food)
• David wants his prayer to be counted as incense to God, and his lifting up of his hands to be counted as the evening sacrifice, why?
• There were pleasing and aromatic -- God desires it
• Both went upwards -- it was not about himself but about God
• David also desire two other things regarding his prayer
• Heard
• Answered quickly
• I think we can all relate to the desire for a quick response to our prayer. But what does the word really mean?
• (LOOK UP WORD) The Hebrew word used here for hasten only occurs three times in scripture. It is also used: to enjoy, be delighted, to be painful, to take notice
• So how might we define what David is saying?
• "I want to please you so much with my request that you will quickly answer it--I want it to be what you desire"
• Sounds a little like Jesus' example of prayer, "thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" -- how could God not want that
• In which case, his prayer might not been as self-seeking as it sounds at first
• In looking to God for answers, we must remember that he sees more than we do …
• 2 Corinthians 4:17–18 (ESV) — 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
• And our earthly home is not the ultimate goal. These verses immediately follow the verses just read …
• 2 Corinthians 5:1–9 (ESV) — 1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. // 6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
• APPLICATION: God desires a deep relationship with us. Prayer is like incense, even more so when we begin to get his vision for the world upon our soul


Psalm 141:3–4 (ESV) —
3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
keep watch over the door of my lips!
4 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!


• David prays for three things here. What are they and how do you know if it is a problem in your life?
• I think we probably all struggle with these things to some degree
• First, our speech. Do we cuss? Do we tear people down or build them up? Do we gossip or edify others (you can gossip about your struggles and what the Lord is teaching you)?
• Second, our thought life. Thoughts usually lead to action. Also, what we dream upon is a good indicator of our thought life as well. Would you want someone close to you to be able to read your mind?
• Third, what company do I keep? There are a lot of things that look good and tasty, but are wrong or build a spirit of covetousness
• These are the types of prayers that do please God, why?
• Because they are focused on our holiness
• These are very much aligned with God's will. He want us to be more like the savior
• APPLICATION: What are the things I pray for myself?


Psalm 141:5–7 (ESV) —
5 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.
6 When their judges are thrown over the cliff,
then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.
7 As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.


• Verse 5 is tough for any sane person to pray. None of us like rebuke. Nowadays, people won't even let you rebuke or even verbally discipline their children. What is David's prayer about rebuke?
• That he would see it as a good thing
• That he would not refuse it
• APPLICATION: Can any of us say that? Why? Because we seldom think that we are wrong
• APPLICATION: The other day I was challenged to rebuke a good friend of mine. I knew the person was right but I had avoided the idea. So, it is hard both to rebuke and to receive rebuke (although receiving is harder)
• Funny thing about rebuke -- the only person we ever feel comfortable rebuking are the people we feel closest to, like our spouse or children. Why is that?
• One, we really want the best for our family
• Two, we don't believe a confrontation will ruin a lifetime of love (although that is not always true)
• How does the discussion of judges fit within the context?
• There is this constant allusion to evil men in the background. David switches back and forth between the groups as if they are both present at the same time
• Some people's jobs are essentially rebuking behavior. A judge is expected to rebuke evil
• Judges are a special class of leadership. In the church, the elders will find themselves in the role of judges
• In secular society, judge don't make the laws -- at least they are not supposed to -- their job is to ensure that the laws are obeyed
• What is David saying about judges?
• Apparently, an attacking Army would throw the judges of the enemy over the cliff to destroy them (it is a way to eliminate the leadership of the country)
• At some point, they will be judged. Once again, David takes an eternal view rather than a temporal view to life, arguing that once dead, the judges would realize the truth of David's words
• And as one turns a field over to plow, so they will turn and see things differently, but it will be too late
• APPLICATION: We live in a culture that is increasingly neurotic. Arguments are based on emotion or ad hominem attacks (as if a person's lifestyle is more important than the logic of the argument). We need to take David's eternal view


Psalm 141:8–10 (ESV) —
8 But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;
in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me
and from the snares of evildoers!
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
while I pass by safely.


• The last part of David's prayer is also like Jesus' prayer example. How is it similar?
• Lead us not into temptation
• Deliver us from evil
• We need to recognize that we do have an enemy
• 1 Peter 5:8 (ESV) — 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
• 2 Timothy 4:17 (ESV) — 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.
• James 4:7 (ESV) — 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
• Ephesians 6:11 (ESV) — 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
• Ephesians 4:27 (ESV) — 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.
• I've said this before, the devil is not omnipresent, and so probably none of us will face him any more likely than we will shake hands and have a conversation with the president. But the enemy leads a very strong force that is attacking us through a world view opposed to a creator or the idea of God's existence. People want to ruin our witness so that they can feel good that our faith offers no answers to life. Paul told Timothy to be sober. We need to be alert
• APPLICATION: There are traps set out there. David felt it necessary to pray. This is part of a spiritual battle. We need to follows David's example