(REFLECTIONS ON Psalm 140:1-13)

As the psalmist writes in today’s Psalm, “they continually stir up wars.” There are so many things in this world that are constantly against us, clawing at us, stirring up wars, desiring that we lose our self, our identity in God, and to bow down in fear.

The world continually stirs up wars, and we are caught up in these endless battles. Sometimes these battles are words and thoughts planted in our minds from the world, and they are like seeds taking root deep in our hearts. They continually gnaw at us, judge us, and start up wars within ourselves.

We are surrounded inside and out by those that continually stir up wars, and as the psalmist writes, “who have purposed to trip up my feet.” How wicked is the world at times, that it derives pleasure from our demise, and purposively tries to entangle our feet so that we trip and fall?

We know how it feels don’t we? When it seems like the world wants us to fail. Yes, we know what it feels like being on both ends of this tug-of-war. We know what it is like because at times we are the ones that want to see others fail, want to trip them up, and want to continually stir up wars.

But isn’t that when we have lost the battle? When our actions and intentions become just like the world and stir up wars purposed to trip up the feet of others? However, the psalmist reminds us that although the world may attack our bodies, environment, and physical lives, that it cannot have our minds.

That is the key isn’t it? When all is taken away from us, when all is stripped away, whether or not we give up on our faith, God, and let our minds be taken captive by those that plot against us? Our minds is the last stronghold of our faith, hope, and love.

7 “O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
You have covered my head in the day of battle.”

That the Lord, the strength of salvation, has covered our head in the day of battle, means that our minds will not be given up to others, but it will remain the Lord’s. We can lose everything, but we lose nothing if our mind is the Lord’s.

Brothers and sisters, no matter what the world does to us, no matter what people do to us, no matter what we do to ourselves, we must remember that as long as our mind is the Lord’s, we will not have fallen in battle.

Our mind is the Lord’s means that the most precious part of what makes us who we are is protected even if everything else is taken away. It means that hope for salvation is ours, that the love of the Lord is ours, and our faith in His final victory is ours.

9 “As for the head of those who surround me,
May the mischief of their lips cover them.

Our mind is the Lord’s and so He will be faithful and keep us in Him for all eternity. But for those that desire to seek our destruction, the mischief of their lips will be what covers their head. Their mind will not be the Lord’s, but it will be their own mischief that owns their minds.

Our mind is the Lord’s and so we do not fear, lose hope, but rather remain at peace (whole), stable, and firm in our faith and trust of Him.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Psalm 140