# 383 A journey through the Psalms. Psalm 140. The poison of vipers!

Found in the Americas, Africa, Eurasia, and South Asia, the snake known as the Viper (or Viperidae) has poisonous venom which it injects into its victim through hinged fangs. This poison produces symptoms such as pain, local swelling, and death of tissue, as well as blood loss from cardiovascular damage complicated by disruption of the blood-clotting system. Death is usually caused by a collapse in blood pressure. In other words, a snake to be avoided at all costs, if possible!

Psalm 140 though, A psalm of David, is not concerned with the Viper as such, but uses the phrase to paint a clear word picture concerning the evil intent and activities of his enemies when he says:

 ³ They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s;
    the poison of vipers is on their lips.

And that’s not all. He continues by describing them as follows:  

¹ Rescue me, Lord, from evildoers;
    protect me from the violent,
² who devise evil plans in their hearts
    and stir up war every day.
³ They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s;
    the poison of vipers is on their lips.

⁴ Keep me safe, Lord, from the hands of the wicked;
    protect me from the violent,
    who devise ways to trip my feet.
⁵ The arrogant have hidden a snare for me;
    they have spread out the cords of their net
    and have set traps for me along my path.

It’s no wonder David is crying out to God for help, faced with such venomous hatred toward him. And so, he prays, Rescue me, Lord … Keep me safe, Lord, confident in God’s ability and desire to do just this because he has experienced God’s intervention in the past and so has hope for the future. He continues:

⁶ I say to the Lord, “You are my God.”
    Hear, Lord, my cry for mercy.
⁷ Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer,
    you shield my head in the day of battle.
⁸ Do not grant the wicked their desires, Lord;
    do not let their plans succeed.

But just how ‘practical’ is prayer in such situations? Shouldn’t David do something a little more ‘practical’ as well as pray? Well, it seems that David understands that the wicked are so powerful, and on the other hand, knows God is All-powerful, so that for him prayer is the most practical thing he can do! The reality is that only God can ultimately transform the situation and can rescue him and then keep him safe. On top of this He is the only One who can prevent their wicked plans from succeeding (v. 8).

Now if you have been the one (or know someone close to you) being poisoned by the malicious words and actions of evil people, you will understood to some extent David’s prayer that follows, when he asks the One who is his strong deliverer to cause his enemies to suffer the same fate that they had tried to impose upon him. And so he prays:

⁹ Those who surround me proudly rear their heads;
    may the mischief of their lips engulf them.
¹⁰ May burning coals fall on them;
    may they be thrown into the fire,
    into miry pits, never to rise.
¹¹ May slanderers not be established in the land;
    may disaster hunt down the violent.

Longman comments that “The idea of the mischief intended by the wicked coming back to bit them is found in a number of places in the Old Testament (Pss. 7:14-16; 9:15; 35:7-8; Prov. 1:8-19).” (# 30)

In the same way, in the New Testament Paul says:

⁷ Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸ Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:7-8)

So, after such an intense time praying for help, deliverance, safety, and punishment of the wicked, David finally “lets the subject rest.’ (# 29) as he speaks of the security he (and all believers) has in a right relationship with God. “His heart is free to find its true home” in Him (# 29). He says:

¹² I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor
    and upholds the cause of the needy.
¹³ Surely the righteous will praise your name,
    and the upright will live in your presence.

Kidner concludes: “His words match the climax to which the whole of Scripture moves: ‘His servants shall serve him: and they shall see his face.’ (Revelation 22:3f., AV).” (# 29)

In this world we will have troubles, but may this be the direction that we are all moving in, to one day see his face !   Amen.