Psalm 141

Psalm cxli. looks indeeed for deliverance, but more for rightness of heart in trial. The desire is to be with, near God, that God should draw near. The heart is with Him — is right with Him. He does not say deliver, as his first desire, but “give ear to my voice;”

that his prayer may be incense, the lifting up his hands

as t ho evening sacrifice. Be Beeks too (and how needed. that in the pressure of evil God should set a

watch before his mouth and keep the door of his lips. We may be true and right in principle on the Lord’s

side; but how does an impatient or pretentions and reproachful word mar the testimony, give a handle to the enemy, and. so far, set the soul wrong- with God. No point is more important than this for the upright. He who can bridle his tongue, the same is a perfect man. ile looks to hi’ in no way drawn away into the paths or society of the wicked. What he wants is to he kept in uprightness. If the smiting of the righteous be needed, he will rejoice in it, as an excellent oil to anoint him, and honour him as a friend. (Irace accompanies this. When calamities come upon God’s outward people, lor of such it speaks here, who have been the enemies of him who has Bought to walk godly and keep himself from evil, his heart yearns over them; there is no rejoicing or triumphing over them; his prayer ascends to (Jod for them. He looks, too, to the overthrow of those who had power over them, smitten by the enemy, as that which shall break down their pride lor good, so that they would hear his words: and he. whatever trouble he might be in, knew their sweetness. The distress was deep, evil in power, but his eyes were unto God. But again we find here that what his heart is on is the nearness of his soul with Godj “leave not my soul destitute.” This is a sure mark of the renewal of heart. So the thief on the cross does not even think of his Bufferings, but asks Christ to remember him in His kingdom. It is a full picture of uprightness of heart, in a soul which, having been away from God, is morally restored hut still under trial.