Explanation: In Psalm 140 David asks the LORD to judge his enemies and to deliver him from their violence. Today's painting depicts a violent encounter between two groups of mounted fighters, typical (minus the modern weapons) of many incidents in the life of David. The circumstances described in the Psalm best fit the persecutions at the hand of Saul, especially David's assertions of innocence. In later persecutions, after David's sin with Bathsheba, David consistently expressed a strong sense of his sin and mingled his requests for deliverance from evil men with pleas for mercy and cleansing from his own sin.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: 1 Samuel 18 - 2 Samuel 1. TYPES OF PSALMS: IMPRECATORY PSALMS: Psalm 5. Psalm 10. Psalm 17. Psalm 35. Psalm 58. Psalm 59. Psalm 69. Psalm 70. Psalm 79. Psalm 83. Psalm 109. Psalm 129. Psalm 137. Psalm 140. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Psalm 140 - #1. Psalm 140 - #2. Psalm 140 - #3. Psalm 140 - #4. Psalm 140 - #5. Psalm 140 - #6. Psalm 140 - #7. ]

     David asks the LORD to deliver him from evil and violent men who imagine mischief in their hearts and gather continually for war. They sharpen their tongues like a serpent and adders' poison is under their lips (1-3). David asks that the LORD will keep him from their grasp lest he be overthrown and taken in their snares and traps (4-5). David then acknowledges that the LORD is his God and asks him to hear his supplications as in the past when the LORD covered his head in battle. And he asks that the LORD will not grant the desires of his enemies lest they exalt themselves (6-8). He asks that the mischief of their own lips will cover them and that burning coals, fire, and deep pits will destroy them (9-10). He asks that evil speakers will not be established in the earth and that evil will hunt the violent man and overthrow him. He expresses confidence that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted and the right of the poor. He is confident also that the righteous will give thanks to the LORD and that the upright will dwell in the LORD's presence (11-13).