MY EYES ARE FIXED ON YOU, O LORD

Passage: Psalms 141:1-10

Key verse: 8a

NIV

Psalm 141
A psalm of David.

I call to you, Lord, come quickly(A) to me;
    hear me(B) when I call to you.
May my prayer be set before you like incense;(C)
    may the lifting up of my hands(D) be like the evening sacrifice.(E)

Set a guard over my mouth,(F) Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.(G)
Do not let my heart(H) be drawn to what is evil
    so that I take part in wicked deeds(I)
along with those who are evildoers;
    do not let me eat their delicacies.(J)

Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness;
    let him rebuke me(K)—that is oil on my head.(L)
My head will not refuse it,
    for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

Their rulers will be thrown down from the cliffs,(M)
    and the wicked will learn that my words were well spoken.
They will say, “As one plows(N) and breaks up the earth,(O)
    so our bones have been scattered at the mouth(P) of the grave.”

But my eyes are fixed(Q) on you, Sovereign Lord;
    in you I take refuge(R)—do not give me over to death.
Keep me safe(S) from the traps set by evildoers,(T)
    from the snares(U) they have laid for me.
10 Let the wicked fall(V) into their own nets,
    while I pass by in safety.(W)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Give Ear to My Voice

A Psalm of David.

141 O Lord, I call upon you; (A)hasten to me!
    Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
Let (B)my prayer be counted as incense before you,
    and (C)the lifting up of my hands as (D)the evening sacrifice!

(E)Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
    (F)keep watch over the door of my lips!
(G)Do not let my heart incline to any evil,
    to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who (H)work iniquity,
    and (I)let me not eat of their delicacies!

(J)Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
    let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;
    let my head not refuse it.
Yet (K)my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
When their judges are (L)thrown over the cliff,[a]
    then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.
As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
    so shall our bones (M)be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.[b]

But (N)my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;
    (O)in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless![c]
Keep me from (P)the trap that they have laid for me
    and from the snares of evildoers!
10 Let the wicked (Q)fall into their own nets,
    while I pass by safely.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 141:6 Or When their judges fall into the hands of the Rock
  2. Psalm 141:7 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 6, 7 is uncertain
  3. Psalm 141:8 Hebrew refuge; do not pour out my life!

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Daily worship (1-4)

David worshiped God in the wilderness--even when he was far from a place of worship; his prayers were like the evening sacrifice. He asked God's protection of his lips and heart. He did not want to be drawn into godless activity.

2. The rebuke of a righteous man (5-7)

David welcomed the rebuke of godly people--but he did not listen to or compromise with God's enemies. We must gratefully welcome the rebukes of God's servants and pray for God's help when we are attacked by evildoers.

3. My eyes are fixed on the Lord (8-1

)

When we are attacked by enemies within or enemies without, we can win the victory if we fix our eyes on the Lord and take refuge in him. He will help us pass safely through the traps that have been set for us.

Prayer: Lord, guard my heart and lips; help me to grow through the rebukes of your servants, and help me to fix my eyes on you.

One Word: Fix your eyes on the Lord