Translation: ESV
O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
In any crisis, calling upon God is the first thing that must be done.
▸This is David's urgent plea, known as an evening prayer psalm (from the incense image of v.
This is David's urgent plea, known as an evening prayer psalm (from the incense image of v.2). It begins with an earnest cry offered in a moment of extreme crisis. 'Hasten to me'—an urgency seeking an answer without delay.
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
Prayer is spiritual worship that rises to God like incense smoke.
▸Two elements of temple worship—incense and the evening sacrifice—become symbols of prayer.
Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!
Restraint of speech cannot be achieved by human effort alone; prayer is needed for God himself to become the guard.
▸This is a prayer to keep from speaking wrongly in a difficult situation.
Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it.
The humility to receive the righteous person's rebuke as fine oil is the mark of spiritual maturity.
▸This is a humble pledge to receive the righteous person's rebuke as grace.
But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
Fixing one's gaze on God in the midst of crisis is the most powerful posture of faith.
▸This is the core confession of Psalm 141.