提要
詩篇第一四○篇至一四三篇顯然是一組詩篇，因為它們具有相似的地方。它們都是大衛的詩篇；大衛是在不同的情況下，以及受到國內強敵的逼迫，轉而祈求上帝保護及拯救，心有所感而先後完成這些詩篇。就像撒但計劃動搖上帝百姓的信心一樣，我們在詩篇第一四○篇也看到、大衛的仇敵也用同樣的方法動搖他的信心。由於大衛擁有公義、內在的平安、及崇高的標準，他們才聚集在一起，發動一次有組織的及預先計劃好的戰爭，對抗大衛。他們圖謀他、誹謗他，以及設下陷阱陷害他。他祈求上帝拯救他、保護他，以及使他遠離那些想殺他的人。
當撒但和他的伙伴攻擊我們的時候，我們會像大衛一樣相信，上帝會在我們危急的時刻保護我。當敵人猛烈攻擊大衛時，上帝保護大衛的頭，就像他戴了堅固的頭盔。至於惡人的頭，大衛祈求，他們自己行的惡事會臨在他們的身上（140：9；141：10）。如果他們是勝利者，公義的因此就有不良的反映。因此，為了上帝的緣故，大衛祈求上帝並報復他們，以免他們被高舉，所以他們必須被打倒。大衛以信心結束這一詩篇；因為他不像被上帝捨棄的惡人，他及其他的正直人都會受到上帝的保護，並且活著感謝上帝賜給他們這麼大的權利──住在上帝的面前。
在詩篇第一四一篇中，大衛所處的情況很像前一詩篇中的情況，但是我們在這一詩篇中看到他非常焦急，雖然身處苦難中，他依然不向試探屈服。為了這個緣故，他祈求上帝的幫助，及義人的譴責與矯正。他舉手所作的禱告和懇求會被上帝悅納，並且會像在上帝家中所獻上的晚祭一樣地有效。
那些行惡事的人利用引誘大衛像他們那樣行惡事，及跟他們一起去享受邪惡的樂趣，進而使他的王朝垮台，但是大衛祈求上帝加添他的力量，警誡他的嘴和心不行邪惡的事，也不參與俗世的享樂。然而仇敵經常利用友誼作為掩飾，向大衛攻擊；顯然，這一迂迴的手法要比直接攻擊更為有效。大衛認出妥協的危險，因而全心祈求，如果他曾經偏離上帝的道路，他寧願接受義人的斥責。帶有愛心的責備對主內弟兄是一大善事，所以他就不會向試探屈服，也不會跌倒在罪惡裡。它就像令人高興的潤滑油，倒在一個人的頭上；它有益被澆灌的人，因為它是一種恩惠。它也是上帝常用的方法，幫助祂的兒女「安全逃脫」惡人的網羅和陷阱（141：10）。
當我們從詩篇第一四二篇的題目看到，它就是大衛「在洞裡時」所作的詩篇。這也許是指，大衛在逃離迦特的非利士人之手，就進入亞杜蘭的山洞躲避一陣子（撒上22：1）。我們從大衛的禱告中可以看到，他那時已到達寂寞和絕望的深淵。他向上帝呼求、傾訴他心中累積的怨懟，也數說他所遭受到的苦難。他也許是單獨，但是如果他的青年朋友還跟他在一起（撒上21：2），他還是有孤單及被遺棄的感受。上帝是祂唯一的庇護所。他在迦特找不到可以庇護他的地方（撒上21：10~15）。沒有上帝，即使躲在山洞裡，他還是得不到保護。上帝是他唯一的產業，因為掃羅逼迫他逃離自己的家鄉；也許那時他的土地和產業都已被掃羅沒收充公了。
不過，大衛有一個巨大的力量來源──他信靠上帝。強敵為他所設的很多網羅都沒有發生效果（142：3下；141：9、10；140：5）。他覺得在耶和華裡才有真正的安全。上帝絕對不會讓他成為他獵人手中的獵物。他感到躲在山洞中就像坐牢一樣，因為掃羅已搶走了他的自由，然而他相信，上帝會祝福他，並以義人圍繞他，所以他要榮耀上帝。正如歷史所記錄，上帝的確使很多人圍繞著大衛、支持他及加強他的力量。當大衛躲在那山洞中時，上帝就差遣四百個人去支持他（撒上22：2）。
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Overview
Psalms 140 to 143 form a distinct group because of their many similarities. They are all psalms of David when he was under difficult circumstances and internal persecution by a strong foe, but he turns to the Lord for protection and deliverance. Just as Satan schemes to cause God's people to stumble in their walk of faith, so it was with David's enemies as we see in Psalm 140. It was mainly because of his righteousness, inner peace, and high standards that they gathered together to wage war against him in an organized and premeditated campaign. The plotted against him, slandered, and set traps that he might fall. He prayed that God would deliver, preserve, and keep him from these violent men who sought his destruction.
When Satan and his co-workers attack us, we, like David, can be confident that God will protect us where we are most vulnerable. Like the strongest helmet, God protected David's head when the battle raged against him. As for the heads of the wicked, David prayed that their own evil would fall upon them (140:9; 141:10). If they were the victors it would reflect badly on the cause of righteousness. Therefore, for the Lord's sake, David prayed that He bring just retribution so they will not be exalted, but rather overthrown. David ends the psalm with confidence, for unlike the wicked who are cast out, he and other upright people will be defended by God and will live to thank Him since they shall have the greatest privilege — to dwell in God's presence.
In Psalm 141, David is in a similar circumstance as in the previous psalm, but here he is more concerned that in his suffering he not succumb to temptation. For this he asks for God's help and for reproof and correction from the righteous. He asks that his prayer and his supplication with uplifted hands be as acceptable to God and as effective as the evening offering of incense and sacrifice in the House of the Lord.
The evildoers were seeking David's downfall by tempting him to do evil like themselves, and to join in with their wicked pleasures, but David asks the Lord for strength to guard his mouth and heart from doing evil and participating in worldly pleasure and luxuries. Often the enemy attacks under the guise of friendliness which can be more effective than direct assaults. David recognizes the dangers of compromise and so he prays that he would always welcome the rebukes of the righteous if he ever starts to go off course. A loving reproof is a great kindness to a fellow believer, so he will not yield to temptation and fall into sin. It is like a soothing and pleasant oil upon one's head that is beneficial and for the receiver's own good. It is also a means whereby God helps His children to "escape safely" from the snares and traps of the workers of iniquity (141:10).
As we learn from the title of Psalm 142, it is a prayer of David "when he was in the cave". This likely refers to the time when he was in the cave of Adullam after fleeing from the Philistines in Gath (1 Sam. 22:1). From David's plea we can see that he had reached the depths of loneliness and despair. He cried out to God, pouring out his complaints and declaring his trouble. He may have been alone, but if his young companions were still with him (1 Sam. 21:2), he nonetheless felt alone and forsaken. God was his only Refuge. He found no refuge in Gath (1 Sam. 21:10-15). Without God, even hiding in the cave could give him no protection. God was his only portion or inheritance, for Saul had forced him to flee from his home and had likely confiscated the land of his inheritance.
David, however, had a great source of strength — his faith in God. The many snares that his strong enemies had laid against him would not prevail (142:3b; 141:9,10; 140:5). He felt secure in the Lord. God would never let him fall prey to his hunters. He felt imprisoned in the cave since Saul had taken away his freedom, yet he was confident that God would bless him abundantly and surround him with the righteous for which he would give glory to God. As history records, God did indeed surround David with many others to support and strengthen him. While hiding in that very cave, God sent four hundred men (1 Sam. 22:2) to him.
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