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Commentary on Psalms 140 verses 8–13
Here is the believing foresight David had,
I. Of the shame and confusion of persecutors.
1.Their disappointment. This he prays for (Psa 140:8), that their lusts might not be gratified, their lust of ambition, envy, and revenge: "Grant not, O Lord! the desires of the wicked, but frustrate them; let them not see the ruin of my interest, which they so earnestly wish to see; but hear the voice of my supplications." He prays that their projects might not take effect, but be blasted: "O further not his wicked device; let not Providence favour any of his designs, but cross them; suffer not his wicked device to proceed, but chain his wheels, and stop him in the career of his pursuits." Thus we are to pray against the enemies of God's people, that they may not succeed in any of their enterprises. Such was David's prayer against Ahithophel, that God would turn his counsels into foolishness. The plea is, lest they exalt themselves, value themselves upon their success as if it were an evidence that God favoured them. Proud men, when they prosper, are made prouder, grow more impudent against God and insolent against his people, and therefore, "Lord, do not prosper them."
2.Their destruction. This he prays for (as we read it); but some choose to read it rather as a prophecy, and the original will bear it. If we take it as a prayer, that proceeds from a spirit of prophecy, which comes all to one. He foretels the ruin,
(1.)Of his own enemies: "As for those that compass me about, and seek my ruin," [1.] "The mischief of their own lips shall cover their heads (Psa 140:9); the evil they have wished to me shall come upon themselves, their curses shall be blown back into their own faces, and the very designs which they have laid against me shall turn to their own ruin," Psa 7:15, Psa 7:16. Let those that make mischief, by slandering, tale-bearing, misrepresenting their neighbours, and spreading ill-natured characters and stories, dread the consequence of it, and think how sad their condition will be when all the mischief they have been accessory to shall be made to return upon themselves. [2.] The judgments of God shall fall upon them, compared here to burning coals, in allusion to the destruction of Sodom; nay, as in the deluge the waters from above, and those from beneath, met for the drowning of the world, both the windows of heaven were opened and the fountains of the great deep were broken up, so here, to complete the ruin of the enemies of Christ and his kingdom, they shall not only have burning coals cast upon them from above (Job 20:23; Job 27:22), but they themselves shall be cast into the fire beneath; both heaven and hell, the wrath of God the Judge and the rage of Satan the tormentor, shall concur to make them miserable. And the fire they shall be cast into is not a furnace of fire, out of which perhaps they might escape, but a deep pit, out of which they cannot rise. Tophet is said to be deep and large, Isa 30:33.
(2.)Of all others that are like them, Psa 140:11. [1.] Evil speakers must expect to be shaken, for they shall never be established in the earth. What is got by fraud and falsehood, by calumny and unjust accusation, will not prosper, will not last. Wealth gotten by vanity will be diminished. Let not such men as Doeg think to reign long, for his doom will be theirs, Psa 2:5. A lying tongue is but for a moment, but the lip of truth shall be established for ever. [2.] Evil doers must expect to be destroyed: Evil shall hunt the violent man, as the blood-hound hunts the murderer to discover him, as the lion hunts his prey to tear it to pieces. Mischievous men will be brought to light, and brought to ruin; the destruction appointed shall run them down and overthrow them. Evil pursues sinners.
II. Here is his foresight of the deliverance and comfort of the persecuted, Psa 140:12, Psa 140:13. 1. God will do those justice, in delivering them, who, being wronged, commit themselves to him: "I know that the Lord will maintain the just and injured cause of his afflicted people, and will not suffer might always to prevail against right, though it be but the right of the poor, who have but little that they can pretend a right to." God is, and will be, the patron of oppressed innocence, much more of persecuted piety; those that know him cannot but know this. 2. They will do him justice (if I may so speak), in ascribing the glory of their deliverance to him: "Surely the righteous (who make conscience of rendering to God his due, as well as to men theirs) shall give thanks unto thy name when they find their cause pleaded with jealousy and prosecuted with effect." The closing words, The upright shall dwell in thy presence, denote both God's favour to them ("Thou shalt admit them to dwell in thy presence in grace here, in glory hereafter, and it shall be their safety and happiness") and their duty to God: "They shall attend upon thee as servants that keep in the presence of their masters, both to do them honour and to receive their commands." This is true thanksgiving, even thanksliving; and this use we should make of all our deliverance, we should serve God the more closely and cheerfully.
"The head of their going about, the toil of their own lips shall cover them" [Psalm 140:9]. Me, he says, the shadow of Your wings shall cover: for, "You have covered me in the day of battle." Them what shall cover? "The head of their going about;" that is, pride. What is, "their going about"? How they go about and stand not, how they go in the circle of error, where is journeying without end. He who goes in a straight line, begins from some point, ends at some point: he who goes in a circle, never ends. That is the toil of the wicked, which is set forth yet more plainly in another Psalm, "The wicked walk in a circle." But "the head of their going about" is pride, for pride is the beginning of every sin. But whence is pride "the toil of their own lips"? Every proud man is false, and every false man is a liar. Men toil in speaking falsehood; for truth they could speak with entire facility. For he toils, who makes what he says: he who wishes to speak the truth, toils not, for truth herself speaks without toil....
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SUMMARY
Psalms 140:9 is a potent imprecatory prayer from David, appealing to divine justice against his adversaries. It specifically targets the ringleaders of those who maliciously oppose him, asking that the very evil and destructive words they utter would boomerang back upon them, overwhelming and silencing their malicious intentions. This verse encapsulates a plea for God's righteous judgment to manifest, ensuring that the wicked are ensnared by their own devices and that their harmful speech becomes their undoing.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Psalm 140 is a fervent lament, a desperate cry from David for deliverance from violent and deceitful enemies. It opens with an urgent plea for rescue from "evil men" and "violent men," setting a tone of immediate danger and distress, as seen in Psalm 140:1,2. Throughout the psalm, David vividly describes the malicious nature of his foes, likening their tongues to serpents and their words to poison, emphasizing the verbal nature of their attacks, as detailed in Psalm 140:3. He details their cunning traps and snares set for him, illustrating their deceptive strategies, as highlighted in Psalm 140:5. Amidst this distress, David consistently expresses his unwavering trust in the Lord as his strength and refuge, a recurring theme of reliance on divine protection, articulated in Psalm 140:7. Verse 9, therefore, is a specific petition within this broader lament, focusing on the ultimate undoing of the enemy's leadership through their own destructive speech, culminating in a confident affirmation of God's justice for the afflicted and the righteous, as declared in Psalm 140:12,13.
Historical & Cultural Context: While the specific historical occasion for Psalm 140 is not explicitly stated, its themes resonate with numerous periods in David's life when he faced relentless persecution from adversaries like Saul, Doeg the Edomite, or various foreign enemies. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, verbal curses and blessings were believed to possess real power, capable of affecting outcomes in the physical and spiritual realms. Malicious speech, slander, and false accusations were not merely social transgressions but were seen as acts of violence, capable of destroying a person's reputation, livelihood, or even life. Kings and leaders, like David, were particularly vulnerable to plots and conspiracies often initiated through deceptive words and secret counsel. David's plea for God to turn the "mischief of their own lips" back upon his enemies reflects a common understanding of poetic justice, where the punishment fits the crime, often mirroring the very means by which the offense was committed. This reflects a deep-seated belief in divine retribution, where God actively intervenes to uphold justice in a world often characterized by human injustice and the abuse of power.
Key Themes: This verse significantly contributes to several overarching themes within the Psalms and broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of Divine Justice and Retribution, articulating a profound desire for God to intervene and ensure that the wicked face the consequences of their own malevolent actions and words. It highlights the principle that evil deeds, particularly those rooted in malicious speech, often boomerang upon the perpetrator, a concept echoed throughout wisdom literature, such as in Proverbs 26:27. Secondly, the verse emphasizes the Power and Peril of Speech. David repeatedly highlights the destructive nature of his enemies' words, portraying them as weapons, as seen in Psalm 57:4. This serves as a stark reminder that words are not inert; they carry immense power, and destructive speech can ultimately lead to one's own downfall, aligning with the wisdom found in Proverbs 18:21. Finally, it reinforces the theme of God as the Ultimate Avenger. Rather than resorting to personal revenge, David appeals directly to God, entrusting his cause to the divine Judge. This aligns with the broader biblical teaching that vengeance belongs to the Lord, as articulated in Romans 12:19. This reliance on God's justice is a hallmark of the righteous throughout the Psalter, such as in Psalm 7.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalm 140:9 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its fervent plea for justice. The most prominent is Imprecation, where the psalmist invokes divine judgment or calamity directly upon his enemies. This is a direct prayer for God to act decisively against the wicked. Metaphor and Imagery are also central, particularly in the striking phrase "let the mischief of their own lips cover them." Here, the "mischief" (evil words, plots, malicious intent) is metaphorically depicted as a tangible substance or force—like a blanket, a flood, or a shroud—that can "cover" or overwhelm, creating a vivid mental image of the enemies being suffocated, buried, or consumed by their own wickedness. This powerful imagery also embodies Poetic Justice, where the punishment perfectly mirrors the crime; the very instrument of their intended harm (their malicious lips and the words they utter) becomes the means of their destruction. There is also a subtle but potent element of Irony, as the words intended to destroy David ultimately boomerang, leading to the destruction or downfall of the speakers themselves.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully articulates a foundational biblical principle: the self-destructive nature of wickedness and the certainty of divine justice. It reflects the theological conviction that God is not merely a passive observer of human affairs but an active upholder of righteousness who will ultimately repay evil. David's prayer is not an act of personal vengeance, but a surrender of the cause to God, trusting that the Lord's perfect justice will ensure that the wicked are ensnared by their own devices. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative where God's character as a righteous judge is consistently revealed, promising vindication for the oppressed and retribution for the oppressor, often through the very means by which they sought to inflict harm. It underscores the divine principle that what one sows, one will also reap.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the imprecatory nature of this psalm can be challenging for modern readers, it offers profound lessons for believers navigating a world often marked by injustice and malicious opposition. David's prayer serves as a powerful model for how to respond when faced with relentless adversaries: rather than succumbing to despair or seeking personal revenge, we are called to bring our grievances directly to God. This verse encourages us to trust implicitly in God's perfect justice, believing that He sees every injustice and will, in His sovereign timing and wisdom, bring about righteous judgment. It reminds us that our ultimate vindication comes from the Lord, freeing us from the burden of retaliation and allowing us to focus on living righteously and loving our enemies. Furthermore, the verse serves as a potent warning about the destructive power of our own words. Just as the "mischief of their own lips" was to "cover them," so too can our own negative, critical, or destructive speech ultimately bring ruin upon ourselves or those around us. It calls us to cultivate speech that builds up, encourages, and speaks truth in love, recognizing the profound impact of every word we utter and striving for words that bring life, not death.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Is it appropriate for Christians to pray imprecatory psalms like Psalm 140:9?
Answer: Imprecatory psalms, while initially unsettling, are part of the inspired Word of God and reflect raw human emotion in the face of profound injustice. For Christians, these prayers are not licenses for personal vengeance but expressions of a deep longing for God's righteous justice to prevail. They remind us that God is a just judge who will ultimately right all wrongs. When we pray such psalms, we are aligning ourselves with God's ultimate desire for justice, entrusting the execution of that justice to Him alone, rather than taking it into our own hands. They teach us to bring our pain and anger to God, trusting His perfect timing and methods, as seen in Romans 12:19-21. These psalms also serve as a prophetic declaration of God's future judgment upon all evil.
What does "let the mischief of their own lips cover them" mean in practical terms?
Answer: This phrase is a powerful poetic expression of divine retribution. It means that the evil words, plots, and malicious intentions that the enemies articulate will ultimately become their undoing. Their own destructive speech will backfire, leading to their downfall, exposure, or ruin. It suggests that their words, intended to harm David, will instead become a trap or a shroud that overwhelms and silences them. This concept is echoed in other wisdom literature, such as Proverbs 26:27 and Psalm 9:15-16, where the wicked fall into the very pit they dug for others. It emphasizes that evil, particularly that expressed through malicious speech, carries inherent self-destructive consequences, often through God's providential reversal of their plans.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 140:9 finds its ultimate fulfillment and transformation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While David prayed for his enemies' words to cover them, Christ, the ultimate Davidic King and Suffering Servant, willingly allowed the "mischief" and malicious words of His enemies to "cover" Him on the cross. The false accusations, the shouts of "Crucify him!" (Luke 23:21), and the mocking insults hurled by passersby (Matthew 27:39) were indeed the "mischief of their lips" that seemed to overwhelm Him. However, in a profound and paradoxical reversal of the imprecation, Christ's suffering under these words was not His defeat but the very means by which He triumphed over sin, death, and the powers of darkness. His silence before His accusers, as prophesied in Isaiah 53:7, demonstrated a divine patience and submission to the Father's will that far surpassed David's plea for retribution. Ultimately, the "head" of those who compassed Him about, Satan himself, was decisively defeated by Christ's sacrificial love and resurrection, not by a direct imprecation of words but by the power of the cross (Colossians 2:15). Through Christ, the principle of divine justice is perfectly upheld, not merely by the wicked being covered by their own words, but by the Lamb of God taking away the sin of the world (John 1:29), offering forgiveness even to those whose lips uttered the most profound mischief against Him (Luke 23:34). Thus, the longing for justice in Psalm 140:9 is met in Christ's redemptive work, where evil is overcome by good, and divine judgment is perfectly executed through grace and truth, securing eternal victory for His people.