Psalm 141: Let the Righteous Strike Me

In crying out to the Lord for deliverance from his enemies, the psalm pray-er cries out equally for deliverance from his own sins, from his own temptations, welcoming the rebukes and correction of the Lord and of His righteous people. Otherwise, how is he any different from those who persecute him? This shows the heart of the one praying: He is not simply longing for deliverance so he can escape his trouble (he welcomes the rebukes of the righteous), but rather he looks for deliverance that he might live before the Lord in righteousness. Likewise, he does not pray for the downfall of his enemies out of sheer vengeance or self-preservation but that their wickedness might fail. The desire of his heart is that righteousness prevail—and the Lord is inclined to hear his prayer because that is the Lord’s desire as well. Pray with such a heart and for such a heart with which to pray!

Lord, I cry out to You;
Make haste to me!
Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.
Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
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 incline my heart to any evil thing,
To practice wicked works
With men who work iniquity;
And do not let me eat of their delicacies.

Let the righteous strike me;
It shall be a kindness.
And let him rebuke me;
It shall be as excellent oil;
Let my head not refuse it.

For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.
Their judges are overthrown by the sides of the cliff,
And they hear my words, for they are sweet.
Our bones are scattered at the mouth of the grave,
As when one plows and breaks up the earth.

But my eyes are upon you, O God the Lord;
In You I take refuge;
Do not leave my soul destitute.
Keep me from the snares they have laid for me,
And from the traps of the workers of iniquity.
Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
While I escape safely.