Psalm-140
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Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of Thy Law!
Tehillim - Psalm 119:18..
(JPS-1917 version
of the Tanakh).
Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have
been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים -
Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth from our beloved
Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD
which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE
DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have shamefully disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
Tehillim - Psalm 140 is a personal plea for protection against violent and deceitful enemies; it combines urgent petition, vivid images of slander and ambush, and a confident appeal to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s (God’s) justice and refuge.
Let us now read Tehillim - Psalm Chapter 140: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
1. “For the Leader. A Psalm of David.
2. Deliver me, O יְהוָה - LORD, from the evil
man; preserve me from the violent man;
3. Who devise evil things in their heart; every day
do they stir up wars.
4. They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent;
vipers' venom is under their lips. Selah
5. Keep me, O יְהוָה - LORD, from the
hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who
have purposed to make my steps slip.
6. The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they
have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.
7. I have said unto יְהוָה - the LORD: ‘Thou art
my אֱלֹהִים - Elohim; give ear, O יְהוָה - LORD, unto the
voice of my supplications.
8. O יְהוִה
אֲדֹנָי - the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
who hast screened my head in the day of battle,
9. Grant not, O יְהוָה - LORD, the desires
of the wicked; further not his evil device, so that they exalt themselves.
Selah
10. As for the head of
those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
11. Let burning coals fall upon them; let them be
cast into the fire, into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
12. A slanderer shall not be established in the
earth; the violent and evil man shall be hunted with thrust upon thrust.
13. I know that יְהוָה - the LORD will
maintain the cause of the poor, and the right of the needy.
14. Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto Thy
Name; the upright shall dwell in Thy presence.
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Let us now view the ‘verse by verse’ item with
explanations:
Verse 1. “For the Leader. A Psalm of David”.
Explanation: Superscription sets liturgical use and Davidic authorship.
Verse 2. “Deliver me, O יְהוָה - LORD, from the evil man; preserve me from the violent man”;
Explanation: Opening petition names two threats: moral wickedness and physical violence; the Psalmist asks for both rescue and preservation.
Verse 3. “Who devise evil things in their heart; every day do they stir up wars”.
Explanation: Enemies are pictured as schemers whose plans produce continual strife.
Verse 4. “They have sharpened their tongue like a serpent; vipers' venom is under their lips. Selah”.
Explanation: Metaphor of venomous speech highlights the moral danger of slander and deceit.
Verse 5. “Keep me, O יְהוָה - LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to make my steps slip”.
Explanation: Repetition intensifies the plea: the Psalmist fears traps and engineered downfall.
Verse 6. “The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah”.
Explanation: Imagery of snares and nets conveys premeditated ambush, social and physical peril.
Verse 7. “I have said unto יְהוָה - the LORD: ‘Thou art my אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’; give ear, O יְהוָה - LORD, unto the voice of my supplications”.
Explanation: The Psalmist reaffirms trust before asking אֱלֹהִים - Elohim to listen, faith precedes petition.
Verse 8. “O אֱלֹהִים - Elohim the Lord, the strength of my salvation, who hast screened my head in the day of battle”,
Explanation: is invoked as protector in conflict; “screened my head” suggests shelter from mortal danger.
Verse 9. “Grant not, O יְהוָה - LORD, the desires of the wicked; further not his evil device, so that they exalt themselves”.
Explanation: Request that אֱלֹהִים - Elohim frustrate the enemies’ aims and prevent their triumph.
Verse 10. “As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them”.
Explanation: A call for poetic justice: let their words become their snare.
Verse 11. “Let burning coals fall upon them; let them be cast into the fire, into deep pits, that they rise not up again”.
Explanation: Strong imprecatory language asking for decisive removal of the threat.
Verse 12. “Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth; evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him”.
Explanation: A plea for the end of the social power of slanderers and violent people.
Verse 13. “I know that יְהוָה - the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor”.
Explanation: Closing confidence: אֱלֹהִים - Elohim defends the vulnerable; the Psalmist rests his case on Divine justice.
My Closing message:
Psalm 140 teaches practical piety: name the danger (deceit, violence), pray specifically, and trust אֱלֹהִים - Elohim to act for the oppressed. We need to learn how to combine honest lament with steadfast faith!
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Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said
the following via several of our prophets...
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of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk
in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances,
and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and
you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
- the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens,
PhD.
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