“To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;”
My Notes
What Does Psalms 140:1 Mean?
David's prayer opens with two parallel requests: deliver me from the evil man, preserve me from the violent man. The two descriptions overlap but aren't identical — one emphasizes moral character (evil), the other emphasizes behavioral pattern (violence). The enemy David fears is someone who is inwardly corrupt and outwardly destructive.
The marginal note translates "violent man" literally as "man of violences" — plural. This isn't someone who committed one act of violence. It's someone whose entire life is characterized by violence, who is defined by it, whose multiplied acts of violence constitute their identity.
The distinction between "deliver" (chalats) and "preserve" (natsar) is significant. Deliver means to rescue, to pull out of danger — reactive protection. Preserve means to guard, to watch over, to keep safe — proactive protection. David wants both: rescue from current threats and ongoing protection from future ones.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Is there a dangerous person you need God to deliver or preserve you from?
- 2.What's the difference between forgiving someone and praying for protection from them?
- 3.How does David's prayer give you permission to ask for safety without guilt?
- 4.Do you need rescue (from current danger) or preservation (from future danger) more right now?
Devotional
Deliver me from the evil man. Preserve me from the violent one. Two prayers that cover two types of protection: rescue from what's already happening and guarding against what's coming.
The "man of violences" — plural — is someone whose life is defined by destructive patterns. Not a single mistake but a multiplied pattern of harm. David is praying about someone who won't stop, who can't be reasoned with, who has made violence their identity. You can't negotiate with this kind of person. You can only pray for protection from them.
If there's a person in your life who is characterized by violence — physical, emotional, verbal, systemic — David's prayer gives you language. Deliver me. Preserve me. This isn't failing to forgive. This isn't lacking faith. This is a prayer for safety from someone who is dangerous, and it's a prayer God includes in His holy Scripture.
The twofold protection — deliver and preserve — recognizes that safety isn't just about escaping the current situation. It's about ongoing protection. Getting out of danger is step one. Being guarded against future danger is step two. David asks for both because he knows the violent person won't stop after one failed attempt.
You can pray for protection from dangerous people without guilt. David, a man after God's own heart, prayed exactly this prayer. And God heard it.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man,.... Either Saul; so Theodoret; or rather Doeg, according to R. Obadiah: but…
Deliver me, O Lord, from the evil man - That is, evidently from some particular man who was endeavoring to injure him;…
In this, as in other things, David was a type of Christ, that he suffered before he reigned, was humbled before he was…
Prayer for deliverance from the machinations of calumnious enemies.
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture