Manslick Road church of Christ

David’s Bedtime Prayer

Godly parents teach their children to pray at bedtime, beginning from the time toddlers are old enough to speak. We can develop no better habit than daily prayer. Psalm 141 is David’s evening prayer. Let’s listen in to a few of his requests.

• “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips” (vs. 3). Is there anything we need to pray more often or more fervently? Remember James’s assessment: “No one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison” (Jas. 2:8 ). O Lord, guard me from saying too much; guard me from speaking ignorantly; guard me from speaking angrily; guard me from speaking dishonestly; and guard me from constant grumbling and criticism.
• “Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice the deeds of wickedness with men of iniquity; and do not let me eat of their delicacies” (vs. 4). The place to stop evil conduct is in the heart, before it spreads to the tongue, hands, feet, etc. (Mt. 15:18-19 ). We have so many less problems when our hearts stay focused on good.

Two dangers constantly lurk. David was keenly aware of both. One is association with those whose hearts are not focused on good. To the extent you can choose your company, choose well. “Bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33 ). The other danger is what David calls admiration of iniquitous men’s delicacies. That might refer to their sins themselves, the enjoyable aspects of their wrongdoing. Or, it may refer to sinners’ apparent “success,” despite (or even because of) wicked living. The Bible frequently warns us against being envious of sinners (Prov. 23:17; 24:19-20 ).

• “Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; it is oil upon my head; let me not refuse it . . .” (vs. 5). This prayer is threefold. First, let there be a friend who will reprove me when I need it. Some are too afraid or too timid to speak. Let there be a Nathan when I need him. Second, let him offer that rebuke as kindly as possible. At best, it will be hard to take. Third, let me be receptive to it. Let me be humble enough, honest enough, and courageous enough to admit my mistakes and made needed corrections.
• ”Keep me from the jaws of the trap which they have set for me, and from the snares of those who do iniquity” (vs. 9). David frequently faced foes trying to entrap him. Behind them all was the great adversary, the devil, who “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8 ). Like David, we need to pray that we will not be enticed by his bait or deceived by the camouflage with which he covers the pit. That includes his servants who disguise themselves as servants of righteousness (2 Cor. 11:15 ).