Psalm 141
Theme
Prayer for Safekeeping from Wickedness
Outline
1-4, David Prays for God's Acceptance and Assistance 5-7, He Prays to be Kept from Snares and from Wicked Company 8-10, His Hope is in God
Key Verse
(141:3) Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. (Ps 141:1) LORD, I cry out to You; make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.
Notes
David’s line of thought changes direction four times in Ps 141 to create five thought units. He begins in verses 1–2 crying out to Yahweh and hoping to be heard. He then asks Yahweh to keep him from speaking or doing evil in verses 3–4, before welcoming the reproof of the righteous in verses 5–6, reflecting on death in verses 7–8, and asking for protection against the wicked in verses 9–10.