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Lord, save me from sinful people. Keep me safe from those who want to hurt me. They make evil plans in their hearts. They are always starting fights. Their tongues are as deadly as the tongue of a serpent.  The words from their lips are like the poison of a snake. I say to the Lord, “You are my God.” Lord, hear my cry for mercy. Lord and King, you save me because you are strong. You are like a shield that keeps me safe in the day of battle” (Psalm 140:1-3,6,7).

Its interesting to trace the use of a Psalm among God’s people; to explore in which contexts worshippers have found this song helpful for their faith. Often, we must travel back in time to find such a setting.

For Psalm 140, no time travelling is needed to find people praying this psalm. It has been adopted by many women who suffer domestic violence. Psalm 140 has become a fervent prayer of such people.

Let me pause for a moment to say this, if you are in danger, please call a local abuse hotline. Even if your abuser professes to be a Christian, you should not stay in a place of danger.

In this psalm, we can hear the realities of both physical and verbal abuse. The scars of the later may run deeper than those on the body. When this happens in the privacy of the home, within the sanctuary of a marriage, the horrors are magnified.

The church has often been silent and complicit. As such, the church has not read her own psalms very well. This song ends, I know that the Lord makes sure that poor people are treated fairly. He stands up for those who are in need. I’m sure that those who do right will praise your name. Those who are honest will live with you (12,13).

Here is a song for the abused.

It is those with power who do the abusing. They also need to read and pray this psalm. It is clear here and in so many other places in scripture that abuse of any sort is evil. It is a misuse of power. Let us be clear, power is to be used to protect those who need protecting. God does not intend power to be used to control or manipulate. It is never to be used for selfish ends.

Jesus was quite blunt about this, “You know about those who are rulers of the Gentiles. They hold power over their people. Their high officials order them around. Don’t be like that. Instead, anyone who wants to be important among you must be your servant. And anyone who wants to be first must be the slave of everyone. Even the Son of Man did not come to be served. Instead, he came to serve others. He came to give his life as the price for setting many people free” (Mark 10:42-45).

He said this specifically to his disciples who would later lead the church. Any of us who hold positions of power and influence, whether at home, at school, in the church or the marketplace would do well to carefully heed Jesus’ words. We should also spend time with this Psalm wondering if we might be numbered among those this psalm calls out.

The Apostle Paul quotes from this psalm, “The words from their lips are like the poison of a snake” (Romans 3:13). Interestingly, Paul is not referring to or condemning the malicious and violent enemies of the faith, but all humanity. Each of us is capable of plotting maliciousness and engaging in violent ways. Our faith in a God of goodness and wholeness reminds us that we are to be imitators of this God, not creators of violence and abuse.

Often when people have designs on our lives, then, we are reduced to prayer. All we can do is pray for God to show grace. The psalm recalls God’s own nature as the one who has the strength to protect, and it recalls occasions in the past when he has provided protection. God is on the side of the lowly and the needy when they are faithful and upright and he is urged to make the would-be evil doers the victims of their own plans.

Evil, injustice, and oppression must be confronted, opposed, hated because God hates them. Too often anger leads us to new forms of violence. This psalmist invites us to submit our anger to God, trusting in both his desire for justice and righteousness and in his ability to bring it about. With the psalmist we pray, “You are my God. Lord, hear my cry for mercy. Lord and King, you save me because you are strong. You are like a shield that keeps me safe in the day of battle”.