Psalms 141

This is to make God to be a God to us, when we have a holy filial fear of him; that you may fear. 6. To make God to be a God to us, is to trust in him (Psalm 141:8): My eyes are to you, O God, the Lord, in you I will trust. (2 Samuel 22:3) The God of my rock, in him I will trust.

5 Rule. If you would not offend in your tongue, pray to God to guard your tongue. (Psalm 141:3) Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth. Set not about this work in your own strength, but implore God's help.

Reproof is a bitter pill, and hard to swallow; therefore we must dip it in sugar, use those sweet mollifying expressions, that others may see love coming along with the reproof. David compares reproof to oil (Psalm 141:5). Oil supples the joints when they are hard and stiff: Our…

Much evil is conveyed to the heart by the tongue. (Psalm 141:3) Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth. (4.) Look in a special manner to your heart (Proverbs 4:23).

Formality starves prayer. Prayer is compared to incense (Psalm 141:2): let my prayer be set forth as incense. Hot coals were to be put to the incense to make it odoriferous and fragrant; fervency of affection is like coals put to the incense, it makes prayer ascend as a sweet pe…

Does God afflict us, say thus, perhaps he intends us mercy in this; he will try us whether we will love him in affliction; he is about to mortify some sin, or exercise some grace; he smites the body that he may save the soul. Could we put such a good meaning upon God's dealings,…

Satisfaction is but in part, there is something of the old man and his works; these things are obstructive to being justified for our own doings. The Psalmist cries out (Psalm 141:2), Enter not into judgment with your servant, for in your sight shall no flesh be justified, and (…

So that to sing, bless, and give thanks, in the language of holy Scripture, is all one. Hence, as spiritual prayer is a sacrifice (Psalm 141:2) offered up to God our Father in the name of Christ, to comfort, solace, and cure a sad and grieved spirit; so spiritual praise is a sac…

And hence it was, that whereas the personal ministry of our Savior himself in preaching of the Gospel, was to precede the introduction of the New Covenant, it was confined to the people of Israel (Matthew 15:24). And he was the Minister of the Circumcision (Romans 15:8), such na…

That in general by incense, prayer is signified, the Scripture expressly testifies. Let my prayer come before you as incense (Psalm 141:2). And there is a fourfold resemblance between them.

For although they understood it not clearly in the notion, yet were true Believers guided to express it in their practice. The time of the Priests offering Incense, they made the time of their own solemn prayers, as believing that the efficacy and acceptance of their prayers dep…

(2.) The incense that was burned every day in the Sanctuary by the priests in their courses. This represented prayer (Psalm 141:2), and was always accompanied with it (Luke 1:9, 10). This also was a type of the continual efficacy of the intercession of Christ (Revelation 8:4).

When was there ever such smiting with the tongue as there is now? Yes, even good men smite one another: there was a time when the Prophet desired to be smitten by the righteous, in Psalms 141:5, Let the righteous smite me (says the Prophet) it shall be as oil to my head; but now…

This anxious condition Christ was in, as other straits are to the saints, is a strait and narrow pass, there was no help for him on the right hand, nor on the left; nor before, nor behind, nor below. Christ, as David his type, (Psalm 141:4) looked round about, but refuge failed…

It is a fault therefore of men that desire to be pleased, and to have matters smoothed over by their teachers. This is David's balm, which he wishes may never be wanting to his head (Psalm 141:5). The end of this verse sets down a memorable sentence, That if we seek to please me…

In Peter, who when he was reproved made no reply, we see an example of patience and humility, whereby he humbled himself before the reprover, when he was convicted of an offense. The like was in David when he said, let the righteous smite me (Psalm 141:5). Whereas Paul says, tha…

If this will not do the deed, God has in store, his corrections, and judgments, to be as a hedge to hem us in (Hosea 2:6). This being so, our duty is to guard and enclose ourselves, specially our hearts (Proverbs 4:23), and all the senses and powers of our souls (Psalm 141:3), b…

In that you judge another, you condemn yourself (Romans 2:1). Therefore David says not, Let the wicked smite me, or let him that is as deep in fault as myself reprove me: but Let the righteous smite me, for that is a benefit, and let him reprove me, that shall be as a precious o…

He continues on the same argument, and therewithal shows wherein this promised help shall stand. We must still keep in mind therefore that these prophecies are to be referred to those woeful and doleful times of which mention has been made before: to wit, when all things were co…

And upon the account of this peculiar appropriation of the Law to the Jews, it is spoken of in the Scripture in places innumerable, as if it had been given to them only, and to no others at all. So speaks the Psalmist (Psalm 141:19), [in non-Latin alphabet] declaring his words t…

3. Because at that time when the sacrifice was burning, all the people that were present did lift up their hands and their eyes, but especially their souls and their spirits heavenward, and poured themselves forth in prayer to God. That of David in Psalm 141:2 will give some lig…

It may be the song of a foole will more delight us, but sure it is, the wise mans reproofe is farre more profitable. This Dauid testified, by desiring that the righteous might smite him, Ps. 141. 5. accounting it as a pretious balm upon his head, which he would neuer want: yea,…

2. The effect of this fellowship is, my spikenard sends forth the smell thereof. Spikenard here signifies the graces of the Spirit, with which the believer is furnished out of the treasure of the sweet spices that are in Christ, which are compared to spikenard, because grace is…

By mountain is often understood the Church (as Isaiah 2:1 and Micah 4:1) called so for her endurance and stability; for typifying of which, the Temple was built on mount Moriah. And it's called a mountain of Myrrh, and hill of Frankincense, to difference this one mountain (which…

This is added, to show that they pretend they have reason for their smiting: they disgrace her, and take away her veil, that they may not be thought to smite holiness or tenderness, but a hypocrite under such a veil, or a whore more decently adorned than became her to be. This i…

Hence the Lord moves and wheels about the heart and will of the man, who is most free and most absolute among all the sons of men, even the King (Proverbs 21:1), and that not if the King will and say amen with his prior or former or collateral consent, but whithersoever Jehovah…

It is not easy to guide a new heart, or to guide and use well the heaven of a fixed heart and such heavenly disposition at the King's banquet of wine, when he gives the hidden manna and the white stone; when Christ's banner over you is love, and his left hand under the head, and…

2. We may pray that God would withdraw his influences from sinful actings (Psalm 119:29): Remove from me the way of lying. Psalm 141:4. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity. Matthew 6:13. Lead us not into temptation.

So the question is, whether or no the children of God may safely set to work, though their actions proceed from conscience, natural power, custom or a mere office, with little influence of habitual grace, to works of grace that they may fetch influences of grace. 1. It's not unl…

Psalm 102, the afflicted soul says (verse 4): My heart is smitten and withered like grass. And here though buried and dead bones scattered at the grave mouth, as when one hews timber, speak and pray to God (Psalm 141), and the Church so overwhelmed, so that they cannot speak (Ps…

If reproofs be physic, it becomes us to be patient. Let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness, and an excellent oil, healing to the wounds of sin, and making the face to shine; and let us never reckon that it breaks the head, if it do but help to break the heart (Psalm…

Resign up your Tongues to God every day, and beg him to guide and keep it. So did David, Psalm 141:3. Set a watch, O Lord before my mouth, and keep you the door of my lips. Beg him to keep you from provocations and temptations; or if you fall into them, intreat him for strength…

And therefore ought by no means to be neglected by Christian priests, that is by any that are Christians. Another spiritual sacrifice is, The Prayers of the Saints (Revelation 5:8) (Psalm 141:2). Let my Prayer be set forth before you as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as…

Lastly, suppose a man have an unfavoury breath of evil speeches. First pray with David, Psalms 141:3. Set a watch O Lord before my mouth, and keep the door of my lips.

And so the schools say, God inclines to good efficienter, working it in us; and to evil deficienter, withdrawing his grace from us. A like expression you have, (Psalm 141:4). Incline not my heart to any evil thing.

Go drench and steep your soul in carnal delights; when your wandering and wanton eye does influence the lusts of your heart, and they begin to boil up, when you have not denied yourself anything your heart can wish, and your eye look upon, put in a little cool water to stop the…

Pray to God, for prayer is the means-general for preservation and sanctification of heart, tongue, and life: lift up your heart and soul to him, and pray as (Psalm 19:14), of which I newly spoke; and say as (Psalm 51:15), O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth your…

When Abigail met David now upon his march so justly provoked, armed also with power and rage; and therefore if we should look at her, that was to discover the [illegible] of his proceedings, and stop him therein, or at David so wronged and provoked, and now upon the sign as the…

The saints eat ashes like bread, they are here in a suffering condition. Psalm 141:7: Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cuts and cleaves wood upon the earth. When a man hews, and cuts a tree, the chips fly up and down, here and there a chip: so here a sai…

Thus grace is aromatic; it embalms the names of men; a gracious person when he dies carries a good conscience with him and leaves a good name behind. Grace perfumes our duties (Psalm 141:2): let my prayer be set forth before you as incense. Noah's sacrifice was a perfume (Genesi…

So love makes all our religious services a sweet odor to God (Ephesians 5:2). Prayer is compared to incense (Psalm 141:2); now incense if it be laid on the altar and have no fire put to it does not smell so sweet; the incense of prayer does not cast such a fragrant smell unless…

When ministers tell you in love of your sins and would reclaim you, take it in good part; the worst they intend is to cure you of your sickness. David was glad of a healing rebuke (Psalm 141:5): let the righteous smite me, it shall be a kindness. Ministers are charged by virtue…

Secondly, he is the Golden Altar of Incense. Incense is prayer (Psalm 141:2): Let my prayer come before you as incense. Jesus Christ is the Golden Altar, whereon that incense is offered (Revelation 8:3, 4), even that Altar which is always before God (Revelation 9:13).

But when actual influences fall upon a heavenly habit, as the Lord can cast in a coal, or a lump and flood of love (Song of Solomon 2:5-6; Luke 24:32; Song of Solomon 6:12), there are most heavenly actings of the soul. 3. He bows and inclines the heart to the Lord's testimonies,…

So that by being made Christians (every one is not so that bears that name) we are ingrafted into Christ, and do attain to a kind of holy and intimate communion with him, in all his glorious offices, and in that regard are called Priests. Fourthly, the sacrifices we are enjoined…

O Christians deny yourselves. Pray that God will set a watch before your lips, Psalm 141.4. Labour to quench the fire of wrath, with a flood of tears.

2. When we pray that the word may meet with our sins; if there be any traitorous lust got into our heart, we would have it found out, and execution done upon it; we would not have sin covered, but cured: we can open our breast to the bullet of the word, and say, Lord smite this…

And he that turns away his ears from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abominable (Proverbs 28:9). Use 2: Suppose we live under the word and hear it; then we must desire that the word may be applied particularly, and personally, against our particular and personal corrup…

They may have some private corruption, which is not fit for them to reveal, if they may be helped by their own private endeavors. Reas. 3 Taken sometimes from the strong work of God in them, so as they are not able to express their estates in company, full of sighs and groans un…

In this respect prayer is called incense: God is delighted with the prayers of his saints, as men with the savor of sweet incense. He loves to hear them often praying, and long to continue, provided that the prayer come from an honest heart and true desire (Psalms 141:2). 2 God…