Prayer For Deliverance

Order of Service

• Scripture Reading — Psalm 141
• Sermon
• Prayer

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Sermon Title: Prayer For Deliverance

Scripture: Psalm 141

I. An Urgent Prayer — Cry to the Lord for Deliverance (verses 1–2)

• A. David's cry is marked by both urgency and reverence — "Hasten to me," yet "let my prayer be counted as incense before you."
• B. David longs to be in corporate worship but cannot attend while in exile; his prayer rises like the incense of the tabernacle — a sweet-smelling aroma before God's face.
• C. The image of incense as prayer is confirmed in Revelation 5:8, where golden bowls full of incense represent the prayers of the saints.
• D. David appeals to the evening sacrifice — offered at twilight (the ninth hour, 3 p.m.), which points to Christ, who cried "It is finished" and gave up his spirit at that very hour.
  1. When David prays "Lord, look to the evening sacrifice," he is praying "Lord, look to your Son."
  2. Christ now sits at the Father's right hand as the risen Lamb, ever living to make intercession for his people (Hebrews 7:25).
  3. Our prayers should likewise come before God through Christ — "Lord, look upon your Son's broken body and shed blood, and hear my cry."

II. A Plea for Protection from Personal Sin (verses 3–5)

• A. Before praying for deliverance from enemies, David first prays to be delivered from himself — his own propensity to sin.
• B. David prays for a guard over his mouth (Psalm 141:3).
  1. He was the subject of slander; his exile under Saul was based on lies, and he was tempted to revile those who reviled him.
  2. We cannot rely on our own strength to guard our tongues; apart from God's grace we cannot resist sin.
  3. Believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit — nothing unclean should pass through our lips.
• C. David prays for a guard over his heart (Psalm 141:4).
  1. "Do not let my heart incline to any evil" echoes Psalm 1:1 — "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked."
  2. David knows his weaknesses and asks for someone stronger than himself to keep him from stumbling.
• D. David prays to remain correctable through godly discipline (Psalm 141:5).
  1. "Let a righteous man strike me — it is kindness; let him rebuke me — it is oil for my head."
  2. An unwillingness to receive reproof or rebuke is an indication of little or no grace at work in us.
  3. Nathan's rebuke of David concerning his sin against Uriah and Bathsheba is a prime example of grace working through godly discipline — David received it, and repented.
  4. Proverbs 27:6 confirms: "The wounds of a friend are faithful," unlike the deceitful kisses of an enemy.
• E. Application: In times of great pressure and danger, pray specifically — "Lord, set a guard over my mouth; keep my heart humble and correctable; make me tender to your gracious discipline."

III. A Petition for Preservation from Enemies (verses 6–10)

• A. David depicts the severity of his situation in verse 7 — his enemies would scatter his bones at the mouth of Sheol, an act of desecration and judgment.
• B. Rather than devising his own escape, David turns immediately to God: "My eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord. In you I seek refuge" (Psalm 141:8).
  1. Just as in verse 1, David's first instinct in crisis is to go straight to God.
  2. This response is not a technique or self-help strategy; it is the work of the Holy Spirit sanctifying the heart through suffering, applying the Word, and lifting the eyes to Jesus.
• C. David prays that the Lord would keep him from the traps and snares of evildoers, trusting not in his own ingenuity but in God alone (Psalm 141:9).
• D. David prays that the wicked would be caught in their own nets (Psalm 141:10), trusting God to judge and to pass him through safely.
• E. Summary application: In all trials — especially those of greatest danger — our focus must be on the Lord Jesus Christ first, not last. Prayer must never be a last resort. Our dangers come from without and from within; only grace keeps us from the snare of the devil.