Bible Commentary

Psalms 141:1-4

Matthew Henry on Psalms 141:1-4

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · Matthew Henry · CC0 1.0 Universal

Make haste unto me. Those that know how to value God's gracious presence, will be the more fervent in their prayers. When presented through the sacrifice and intercession of the Saviour, they will be as acceptable to God as the daily sacrifices and burnings of incense were of old.

Prayer is a spiritual sacrifice, it is the offering up the soul and its best affections. Good men know the evil of tongue sins. When enemies are provoking, we are in danger of speaking unadvisedly. While we live in an evil world, and have such evil hearts, we have need to pray that we may neither be drawn nor driven to do any thing sinful.

Sinners pretend to find dainties in sin; but those that consider how soon sin will turn into bitterness, will dread such dainties, and pray to God to take them out of their sight, and by his grace to turn their hearts against them.

Good men pray against the sweets of sin.

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The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:1Psalms 141:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryLord, I cry unto thee; make haste unto me. The need is pressing and urgent. God is therefore entreated to "hasten" (comp. Psalms 22:19; Psalms 31:2; Psalms 38:22; Psalms 40:17, etc.). Give ear unto my voice, when I cry…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:1-10Psalms 141:1-10 · The Pulpit CommentaryEXPOSITION ALMOST wholly a psalm of supplication. David is again in danger, and needs a prompt deliverance (Psalms 141:1). This time the danger seems to be that he may fall away, and be absorbed into the company of the…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:1-10Psalms 141:1-10 · The Pulpit CommentaryAcceptable sacrifices. The more distinctive teaching of this psalm respects— I. THE SACRIFICE OF PRAYER. (Psalms 141:2, Psalms 141:8, Psalms 141:9.) When the sacrificial services of the tabernacle (or temple) could not…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:1-10Psalms 141:1-10 · The Pulpit CommentaryKeep me from the snares. This difficult psalm seems to be the cry of a greatly tempted soul. And the temptation now did not arise so much from the persecutions of the ungodly as from their seducing favors—what he calls…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:1Psalms 141:1 · The Pulpit CommentaryThe plea of former prayer. Associating this psalm with David, Spurgeon thinks we have here "David under suspicion, half afraid to speak lest he should speak unadvisedly while trying to clear himself; David slandered and…The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:1-10Psalms 141:1-10 · The Pulpit CommentaryA comprehensive prayer. The psalm has some peculiar difficulties, due to the extreme abruptness with which the thoughts follow one another, and the great obscurity which hangs over the allusions. Let us try and select t…
commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:1Lord, I cry unto thee; make haste unto me. The need is pressing and urgent. God is therefore entreated to "hasten" (comp. Psalms 22:19; Psalms 31:2; Psalms 38:22; Psalms 40:17, etc.). Give ear unto my voice, when I cry…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:1-10EXPOSITION ALMOST wholly a psalm of supplication. David is again in danger, and needs a prompt deliverance (Psalms 141:1). This time the danger seems to be that he may fall away, and be absorbed into the company of the…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:1-10A comprehensive prayer. The psalm has some peculiar difficulties, due to the extreme abruptness with which the thoughts follow one another, and the great obscurity which hangs over the allusions. Let us try and select t…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:1-10Acceptable sacrifices. The more distinctive teaching of this psalm respects— I. THE SACRIFICE OF PRAYER. (Psalms 141:2, Psalms 141:8, Psalms 141:9.) When the sacrificial services of the tabernacle (or temple) could not…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:1-10Keep me from the snares. This difficult psalm seems to be the cry of a greatly tempted soul. And the temptation now did not arise so much from the persecutions of the ungodly as from their seducing favors—what he calls…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:1The plea of former prayer. Associating this psalm with David, Spurgeon thinks we have here "David under suspicion, half afraid to speak lest he should speak unadvisedly while trying to clear himself; David slandered and…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:2Prayer as incense. From the mention of the evening sacrifice we may gather that the psalmist is actually praying in the evening. Incense was offered when the lamps were trimmed in the morning, and when the lamps were li…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 141:2Let my prayer be set forth (or, "established") before thee as incense; i.e. with the regularity of the incense, and with its acceptableness. And the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. The hands were "lifte…Joseph S. Exell and contributors