Studies in Psalms – Psa 140:1-13 “Preserve me from the violent man” Part I
Psalm 140:1-4 “Preserve me from the violent man” – Part 1
[Study Aired December 19, 2019]
Psa 140:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
Psa 140:2 Which imagine mischiefs in heart; continually are they gathered together
Psa 140:3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.
Psa 140:4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
When we are being judged of God, our new man is being preserved from “the violent man” within us by his destruction that comes about as a result of the brightness of Christ coming into our heavens with a sharp two edged sword (2Th 2:8, 2Sa 12:10, Heb 4:12) that destroys everything that has carnal nephesh breath within us so to speak (Deu 20:16-18).
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Sa 12:10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Deu 20:16 But of the cities of these people, which the LORD thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:
Deu 20:17 But thou shalt utterly destroy them; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee:
Deu 20:18 That they teach you not to do after all their abominations, which they have done unto their gods; so should ye sin against the LORD your God.
This is precisely how God makes a way for us in the sea of the “mighty waters” of humanity where no one can make war with the beast. Everything we come up against within and without ourselves is part of that sea that God, as we discussed last week, is omnisciently ruling (2Th 2:8, 2Sa 12:10, Heb 4:12, Isa 43:16, Rev 13:4, Eph 1:11).
Isa 43:16 Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters; [Joh 14:6]
Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: [Php 2:13, 2Co 4:15, Rom 8:28]
Those who are not judged in this life are reserved unto judgment (2Pe 3:7) and are not experiencing (Rom 8:28 or 1Pe 4:17) in this age. The “violent man”, as we will see with scripture, is the man who does violence to the word of God by a deceived mind that worships the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” (Rev 13:4).
2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. [Each man in his order 1Co 15:20-23]
Our own words will judge us “in the last day“ we are told of those in the second resurrection (2Pe 2:9, Jud 1:6, Zec 12:3, Zec 12:6), but if you are being judged today then you are not being reserved but preserved through judgement “at that day” or “in that day“, the day of the Lord that has come upon the church and causes us to stop being worshippers of the beast who fearfully declare as we all did in our appointed time, who can overcome in this life, or “Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?“(Joh 12:48, Joh 14:20, 1Pe 4:17). We are doing violence to the word of God if we are thinking this way, and this is the spirit of anti Christ to say that you can’t overcome in this age (Col 1:27, 1Jn 4:2-4, 2Ti 2:19)
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: [the hope of being obedient and going from glory to glory through Christ]
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God [Rom 8:9, Col 1:24, Col 1:27, Rom 8:16]: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. [Php 2:13, 1Jn 2:15-17, 1Jn 2:18-20].
2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
The words that proceed after (Rev 13:4) that says no man can make war with the beast then go on to demonstrate the war that is going on in our heavens, with the court against the temple or the flesh against the spirit (Gal 5:17 , Rev 13:5-18), and how the world has been kept in spiritual bondage for our sakes and how it is only with the mind of Christ that we can be set free from sin as we continue (abide) in the truth that requires we go through a cleansing process symbolized by the last verse of Revelation 13:18 (Rom 8:9 , 1Co 3:16 , Joh 8:31-32 , Joh 14:6 , Rev 13:18).
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Rev 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
Rev 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
The carnal mind without Christ declares it can’t make war with the beast and immediately wants to entangle us with a mouth that speaks “great things and blasphemies“(Rev 13:5). This is the “violent man” that must be destroyed and torn down in our heavens, because all he wants to do is violence against God’s word, explained as an attack that comes upon the tabernacle that we are in (Rev 13:5-7), or spoken of in the same manner but using Christ’s body as the type of the tabernacle or temple that we are in (Heb 6:4-6 , 1Co 3:16). It is “those who were once enlightened” whom God uses, those who were of our own household who “crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame“, and God allows this for our sakes and for our learning (Rom 11:18-21).
Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.
Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
God is redeeming the elect first from this corruptible flesh through Jesus Christ, and He wants us to know and to be confident that with Christ in us, this redemptive process is going be accomplished through Him who will lead us unto repentance and to the purchasing of extra oil so our lamps will not go out and we will be able by the grace and faith of Christ to “go ye out to meet him” (Mat 25:6-9 , Rev 3:18 , Rom 5:10) which is where we will lose our life, being overcome by the world in the positive sense of being overcome, while we are found in Christ (Php 3:9).
Mat 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. [Heb 13:13]
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
Mat 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
The good news is declared in (Rom 5:10) that tells us that this life time of overcoming the violent man within and without ourselves is going to be accomplished by God through Christ in those who were predestined to overcome in this age (Rev 3:21 , Rev 20:6).
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Our first verse:
Psa 140:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
There is nothing good in our flesh, and so it will take the miracle of this ongoing deliverance that our Father gives us through Christ to overcome the “evil man” and to “preserve me from the violent man” within me.
On one hand, God has given us the ability to see that there is none righteous of our own accord (Rom 3:10) and that it is entirely up to him to stay the hand of Satan and strengthen us through Christ so we can save ourselves and those who hear us (1Ti 4:16), otherwise we would be sifted like wheat as Christ told Peter (Luk 22:31).
Rom 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
1Ti 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Luk 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Christ told Peter and us to rejoice always because our names are written in heaven, and this declaration of Christ is something that reminds us that we are more than conquerors through him who has prayed for us and is praying for us through each member, prayers of deliverance from those powers and principalities that could easily rise up and sift us, and that are currently controlling the deceived world we live in by Satan “and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations”(Rev 13:7). That is just how critical our prayers are for each other in order to deliver us “from the evil man” and “preserve me [us] from the violent man” (Luk 10:17-20 , Luk 22:32 , Php 1:19 , Jas 5:16 , 2Co 4:4).
Luk 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
Luk 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
Luk 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Luk 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. [Rev 19:7]
Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Php 1:19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Psa 140:2 Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
This verse reminds us how persistent the sin nature is within us, and how we must never take anything for granted.
“Continually are they gathered together for war” is another way of saying “sin lieth at the door” (Gen 4:7).
Gen 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? [how can we “doest well, when there is none good?” Rom 3:12 , Eph 1:6] and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Folly can be bound in the heart of a child of God “which imagine mischiefs in their heart” and because our Father loves us, he drives that folly out of us via a rod of correction (Pro 22:15 , Heb 12:6).
Pro 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Heb 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Psa 140:3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poisonH2534 is under their lips. Selah.
This 3rd verse of our study starts to help us zero in on the subject of how we are perceived by God when our walk is not in accord with his will, or when we are not savouring the things of God, which is saying the same thing. Christ is essentially telling Peter in these following verses that he has this sharp tongue “like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips” (Mat 16:22-25).
Mat 16:22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him [1Ti 5:1], saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
Mat 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
[men would say that a ten seconds sinner’s prayer will suffice and tell Christ and his body to get off the cross and save yourself in your flesh, via the law for the lawless [Mar 15:30 , Gal 2:20 , 1Ti 1:9], but what does God’s word tell us: Mat 16:25].
Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Mat 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake [Mat 10:22] shall find it.
That mindset of Peter in this instance is the one that does violence to God’s word, by being controlled by our emotions and not taking Christ at face value when he says something (Mat 16:21 , Mat 10:19).
Mat 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Mat 10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
Mat 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
These are the words of Christ that got the unconverted Peter all riled up (Mat 16:22 , Mat 26:51-52 , Joh 18:10-11), and that will get all of humanity riled up against the body of Christ as we go unto Jerusalem above, and endure through suffering and “fury“[adders’ poisonH2534] , and are rejected of the accusers of the brethren especially the religious elite “the elders and chief priests and scribes”, so that we can go unto perfection on “the third day” as a result of being blessed to be able to keep under our body (1Co 9:27) and die daily as we go through much tribulation so we can enter into the kingdom of God (Act 14:22).
adders’ poisonH2534 =”Chemah”
Total KJV Occurrences:
fury 67 , furious 5 , furiously 1
wrath 34, wrathful 1 , wroth 1
hot displeasure 3 , rage 2, anger 1, heat 1, indignation 1
poison 6
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1Co 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Act 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Peter is us and so we need to be ever vigilant knowing that one moment we can be saying to Christ by inspiration of “my Father which is in heaven” that you are Jesus Christ (Mat 16:15-18), and then very shortly after carnally justify the need to rebuke Christ as Peter did (Mat 16:23). Peter was not converted at that point, but his actions are still written as words that are to admonish us in our walk today, as we die daily.
Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The larger lesson for us as we near the end of this age is to watch and pray always that we don’t fall into temptation because “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mat 26:41) and we know evil men are going to wax worse and worse (2Ti 3:13) and cause the love of many to wax cold (Mat 24:12), and that the wickedness that is in the earth will try to affect the body of Christ and deceive even the very elect if possible (Mat 24:24). However we are promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church, and that through Christ the fervent prayers of the saints will avail much. Our coming together often will play into our being able to endure until the end, as well (Mat 16:18 , Heb 10:25 , Mal 3:16)
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Psa 140:4 Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wickedH7563; preserve me from the violentH2555 man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
There are two distinct groups being talked about in the parable of “that faithful and wise steward” and “that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not “, and both are written to admonish us to keep fighting a good fight of faith so that we can be that servant who our Lord finds providing spiritual meat in due season when he returns, and not be (any longer) the servant who beats “the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken“. This is the man that Peter was in his unconverted heart and it was and is us when we do this to the least of the “menservants and maidens” (Luk 12:42-49) within and without. When we do, we are doing it unto Christ who told Peter to put up your sword (Joh 18:8-11). This again is the violent man that we are asking God to keep us from, the man who cuts off the hearing of others and misappropriates the sword or Word of God: “Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings“.
Luk 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
Luk 12:43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Luk 12:44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
Luk 12:45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
Luk 12:46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
Luk 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
Luk 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
Luk 12:49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
Joh 18:8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
Joh 18:9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.
Joh 18:10 Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
Joh 18:11 Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
This first part of our two part study with Psalm 140 ends with a great lesson from our Lord of what we must do to anyone who does not savor the things of God. As we looked at in the introduction this evening, and reviewed verses in Revelation chapter 13, after the beast that is spoken of in verse 4, then (Rev 13:5-18) clearly shows that the spiritual warfare in our heavens is centered around “a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies;” that continue on for a symbolic “forty and two months”, the same amount of time that the two witnesses are witnessing to the truth by the power of God. These verses in (Rev 11:2-3) show both those time frames and the need for this wrestling match that goes on in our heavens that is not against flesh and blood but against the powers and principalities that Christ is far higher than and that we can overcome through him (Eph 6:12, Eph 1:21).
Rev 11:2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
[Our lifetime of much tribulation and persecution has turned us into the fatted calf for the world symbolized in this verse that speaks of the end result of the prodigal son and the reason we go without the camp with out Lord as a burnt offering Luk 15:23, Heb 13:13].
Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. [Rom 11:20]
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
Rest assured, God is working with his children to “preserve me from the violentH2555 man”, this “wicked”H7563 =”ungodly”,”condemned”, “guilty”, “wrong” man. This “wrong”, false” “cruel”, ‘unjust, “unrighteous” “oppressor” that we are, “purposed to overthrow my goings”, within first, will be used to exercise and strengthen us (Num 14:9), and then having done all (more and more as we die daily), we are able/will be able to stand up for what is right through Christ (Eph 6:13-18).
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. [Job 19:25]
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;