# Psalm 141 📖: Guard My Mouth [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Psalm Overview]] | [[Psalm 140]] | [[Psalm 142]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) #### A psalm of David. [[#Verse 01.]] O Lord, I cry out to you. Come quickly to me. Pay attention to me when I cry out to you. [[#Verse 02.]] May you accept my prayer like incense, my uplifted hands like the evening offering. [[#Verse 03.]] O Lord, place a guard on my mouth. Protect the opening of my lips. [[#Verse 04.]] Do not let me have evil desires, or participate in sinful activities with men who behave wickedly. I will not eat their delicacies. [[#Verse 05.]] May the godly strike me in love and correct me. May my head not refuse choice oil. Indeed, my prayer is a witness against their evil deeds. [[#Verse 06.]] They will be thrown over the side of a cliff by their judges. They will listen to my words, for they are pleasant. [[#Verse 07.]] As when one plows and breaks up the soil, so our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol. [[#Verse 08.]] Surely I am looking to you, O Sovereign Lord. In you I take shelter. Do not expose me to danger. [[#Verse 09.]] Protect me from the snare they have laid for me, and the traps the evildoers have set. [[#Verse 10.]] Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I escape. ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. The heading attributes Psalm 141 to David. 2. Incense was burned on the golden altar every morning and evening (Exodus 30:7-8). 3. The "evening offering" (141:2) refers to the daily sacrifice offered at twilight (Exodus 29:38-41). 4. Revelation 5:8 and 8:3-4 picture the prayers of God's people rising before Him like incense. 5. Psalm 141 has long been sung at evening prayer, and it is a central part of Vespers in Eastern Orthodox worship. 6. "A guard over my mouth" (141:3) pictures a watchman posted at a city gate. 7. The "delicacies" of the wicked (141:4) may refer to feasts that drew people into their sinful company. 8. Anointing the head with oil (141:5) was a sign of honor and refreshment for a guest. 9. Bones scattered at the mouth of Sheol (141:7) is one of the more difficult images in the Psalms and pictures severe defeat. 10. The psalm ends with David's eyes fixed on the Lord as his refuge (141:8). ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is our great High Priest, and through Him our prayers and praise rise to God like incense (141:2). Through Him we continually offer God a sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15). ## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. David asks that his prayer be like incense and his lifted hands like the evening offering (141:2). How does seeing prayer as an offering change the way you pray? 2. He asks God to guard his mouth and keep his heart from evil (141:3-4). What words or desires do you need God to guard right now? 3. David welcomes correction from the righteous as a kindness (141:5). How do you usually respond to loving correction? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 2: May my prayer be like incense before You, my uplifted hands like the evening offering. - 📖 verse 3: Place a guard on my mouth, Lord; protect the opening of my lips. - 📖 verse 5: May the godly strike me in love and correct me; it is like fine oil on my head. ## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference - 🔗 [[Hebrews 13#Verse 15.|Hebrews 13:15]] - A continual sacrifice of praise. - 🔗 [[Revelation 08#Verse 03.|Revelation 8:3-4]] - Prayers rise like incense before God. - 🔗 [[James 03#Verse 02.|James 3:2-10]] - Taming the tongue. - 🔗 [[Proverbs 27#Verse 06.|Proverbs 27:6]] - Faithful are the wounds of a friend. - 🔗 [[Exodus 30#Verse 07.|Exodus 30:7-8]] - Incense burned morning and evening. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 📂 Internal Notes