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Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! (v. 2, ESV)
The Psalms teach types of prayer for differing times during our day. Psalm 141 is an evening prayer.
There is no better way to release the residue of frustration and even the stumbling of our day than with evening prayer. In this Psalm, we learn how to pray before we sleep.
King David must have had a really bad day as he begins his prayer with . . .
O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! (v. 1)
How many times have we come to the end of a day and were beyond frustrated? David says, “God, hasten, hurry, come right now because I need you” (v. 2, OGV).
What caused the difficulties of David’s day?
Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me and from the snares of evildoers! Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely (vv. 9-10, ESV).
Some bad days are caused by unexpected events beyond our control, but many of our bad days involve other people. With King David, his enemies were after his life and had set traps for his capture and destruction.
How did David respond? What should be our course of action when others seek to undermine, destroy, and slander our name?
First, David says, “I’m going to be careful with what I say.”
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! (v. 3)
All of us can make a day go from bad to worse when we respond with words that reflect unrestrained anger. For my evening prayers, I often review Ephesians 4:29 . . .
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Second, dealing with the attacks of others, David says, “I will seek and listen to godly counsel about what happened today.”
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 my prayer is continually against their evil deeds (v. 5).
We all need accountability.
There are two requirements for accountability—someone who loves you and is willing to speak the truth. As the Apostle Paul writes, “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).
I’ve learned through the years that those who say I need accountability often have a hidden agenda. Listen only to those who have consistently stood with you and proven their loyalty. Let their words, though they hurt, cut deeply.
Third, when confronted by his enemies, David says, “I will trust in God.”
This is the purpose of evening prayer: to review the day, cast our anxieties onto the Lord, guard our hearts against anger, and renew our trust in God. If we do this, we will sleep soundly.
There are no better words to speak as we lie down at night than . . .
But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge (v. 8).
Amen. Peace out!