‏ Psalms 140

* David encourages himself in God. (1-7) He prays for, and

prophesies the destruction of, his persecutors. (8-13)1-7 The more danger appears, the more earnest we should be in

prayer to God. All are safe whom the Lord protects. If he be for

us, who can be against us? We should especially watch and pray,

that the Lord would hold up our goings in his ways, that our

footsteps slip not. God is as able to keep his people from

secret fraud as from open force; and the experience we have had

of his power and care, in dangers of one kind, may encourage us

to depend upon him in other dangers. 8-13 Believers may pray that God would not grant the desires of

the wicked, nor further their evil devices. False accusers will

bring mischief upon themselves, even the burning coals of Divine

vengeance. And surely the righteous shall dwell in God's

presence, and give him thanks for evermore. This is true

thanksgiving, even thanks-living: this use we should make of all

our deliverances, we should serve God the more closely and

cheerfully. Those who, though evil spoken of and ill-used by

men, are righteous in the sight of God, being justified by the

righteousness of Christ, which is imputed to them, and received

by faith, as the effect of which, they live soberly and

righteously; these give thanks to the Lord, for the

righteousness whereby they are made righteous, and for every

blessing of grace, and mercy of life