So, what’s your biggest problem? Is it health or grief, loneliness or depression? Are you wondering how you’ll make ends meet with the price of everything going up? Are you wrestling with difficult or strained family relationships?

Well, David also had plenty of things to worry about, didn’t he? His father-in-law suffered from paranoid delusions, so David was unable to be with his wife. And because his father-in-law was also the king, David was an outlaw, on the run to try to avoid being executed. Oh, yes, David had plenty of reasons to ask God to keep him “from the jaws of the trap” his enemies had set for him (verse 9). When he called upon God, he had many urgent reasons to want God to hear his prayers (verses 1-2).

But even though his very life was often in danger, David’s primary concern in this prayer was not his health but his holiness. Before asking God not to leave him defenseless (verse 8), he asks the Lord to help him speak only pure and helpful words (verse 3; see also Ephesians 4:29). Before asking God to let the wicked fall into their own nets (verse 10), David begs the Lord not to let him commit any evil actions, following the example of those who have turned away from God (verse 4). In fact, David asks God to help him avoid the temptation of accepting any of the fruits of their sinful ways. Moreover, he begs God to send him righteous counselors to hold him accountable for his words and deeds (verse 5).

In our modern political climate, it’s easy for us to long for political leaders like King David, for those who have such pure motives. But maybe we should also take a look at our own priorities in prayer. Maybe we should join David in praying more earnestly for our sanctification than for our safety. Maybe we should turn our eyes toward the Lord (verse 8), instead of focusing on all the pleasures or possessions we might gain from this world. Maybe we should take refuge in God instead of trusting in our wealth or friends, our abilities or our reputation. Maybe we should really listen to our Christian friends when they try to set us straight (verse 5).

So, today, let us trust that the God Who has chosen us “from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth” (II Thessalonians 2:13) will answer our prayers, keeping watch over our lips and our lives, molding us more and more into the likeness of the One Who died so that we might be forgiven, and Who rose from the dead so that we might have abundant, resurrection life. For as we trust in the perfect sacrifice of Christ, we can be sure that our prayers for greater sanctification will ascend as incense with the smoke of His offering, all the way to the throne of God (verse 2).

Psalm 141 (NASB)

A Psalm of David.
O Lord, I call upon Thee; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to Thee!
2 May my prayer be counted as incense before Thee; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.
3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.
4 Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, To practice deeds of wickedness With men who do iniquity; And do not let me eat of their delicacies.
5 Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head; Do not let my head refuse it, For still my prayer is against their wicked deeds.
6 Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock, And they hear my words, for they are pleasant.
7 As when one plows and breaks open the earth, Our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol.
8 For my eyes are toward Thee, O God, the Lord; In Thee I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless.
9 Keep me from the jaws of the trap which they have set for me, And from the snares of those who do iniquity.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, While I pass by safely.