Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
Psalm 141:3 is a short prayer with searching force. David is not only concerned with enemies outside him, but with sin that may break out from within him. The psalm begins with urgent prayer: “LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee” (v.1). He desires his prayer to be set before God as incense, and the lifting up of his hands as the evening sacrifice (v.2). Then, before asking that his heart not be inclined to any evil thing or that he not eat of the dainties of evil doers (v.4), he first prays for his mouth. This order is wise. The heart is the fountain, but the mouth is one of the first streams by which corruption appears.
“Set a watch.” David asks Jehovah to station a guard. A watchman is placed where danger is expected. Cities set watchmen on walls because enemies may approach (2 Samuel 18:24-27). Shepherds keep watch over flocks because danger may come by night (Luke 2:8). David asks God to set such a guard before his mouth because he knows danger may come through his speech. This is humility. He does not trust his own restraint. He does not say, I will manage my tongue unaided. He asks the LORD to appoint the guard.
The prayer assumes that the mouth is dangerous. James teaches this plainly: “the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity,” and “therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men” (James 3:6,9). Solomon wrote, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). Many sins enter public life through speech: lying, slander, boasting, railing, murmuring, flattering, foolish jesting, corrupt communication, angry words, rash vows, gossip, exaggeration, and deceit. David knew this danger and prayed before the sin broke out.
“O LORD.” David goes to Jehovah for government of his tongue. LORD in all capital letters is the King James Bible’s usual way of representing the divine name Jehovah. This is important. The tongue cannot be safely ruled by natural temperament, etiquette, education, fear of embarrassment, or public reputation. Men can learn polite speech while still having wicked speech. They can restrain words in one setting and unleash them in another. David asks Jehovah Himself to guard his mouth, for only God can govern the inward man from which words arise.
“Before my mouth.” The watch is set before the mouth, at the point where thoughts become words. This is prevention. David does not only ask forgiveness after speech has sinned; he asks restraint before the sin escapes. This is a wise pattern for prayer. “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins” is better than asking pardon after presumptuous sins have ruled (Psalm 19:13). “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” is better than waiting until temptation has already conquered the tongue (Matthew 6:13). David asks God to stop the sin at the door.
The mouth reveals the heart. Jesus said, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). He also taught that what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart and defiles the man (Matthew 15:18-19). Therefore Psalm 141:3 is not a prayer for outward display. David is not asking God to help him sound careful while the heart remains corrupt. He wants God to guard the mouth because the mouth exposes the heart. Verse 4 confirms this, for he next prays, “Incline not my heart to any evil thing.” The guarded mouth and guarded heart belong together.
“Keep the door.” The figure changes but the thought continues. The lips are like a door. A door may open or shut. It may admit or restrain. It may release what should have stayed within, or keep back what should not be allowed out. David asks God to keep that door. This is a strong image for self-government by grace. The lips must not swing open to every thought, feeling, anger, complaint, or suspicion. A wise man does not open every door to every visitor, and a godly man must not open his lips to every inward motion.
Scripture repeatedly praises restraint at this door. “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19). “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23). “He that hath knowledge spareth his words” (Proverbs 17:27). The door of the lips must be kept because many words provide many opportunities for sin. Silence is sometimes obedience. Restraint is sometimes wisdom. A closed door may be one of the greatest mercies God gives a man.
“Of my lips.” David is specific. He does not pray generally against sin while leaving speech untouched. He names the member needing rule. This is how prayer should often be made. A man who says only, Lord, help me, may still avoid confessing the particular place where he is weak. David names the mouth and lips. The angry man should pray over angry words. The talkative man should pray over many words. The fearful man should pray over murmuring words. The bitter man should pray over hard words. The proud man should pray over boasting words. The deceitful man should pray over lying words. The censorious man should pray over backbiting words. Godly prayer brings the actual member to God.
This verse is especially necessary under provocation. Psalm 141 is not written in ease. David faces wicked men and temptations around him (vv.4,9-10). Trouble often loosens the tongue. Persecution tempts a man to railing. False accusation tempts him to answer with bitterness. Delay tempts him to complaint. Fear tempts him to unbelieving speech. Anger tempts him to sharp words. David therefore prays before pressure becomes transgression. He would rather have God set a watch than let his enemies draw sin out of his mouth.
The connection to verse 5 is also important. The man who asks God to guard his mouth should also be willing to receive correction when his mouth fails. Verse 5 says, “Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities” (v.5). A guarded mouth and a correctable spirit belong together. The man who resents reproof usually has an unguarded tongue. David wants preservation from both: he does not want wicked enticements to corrupt him, and he does not want pride to reject righteous correction.
This verse warns against careless speech among believers. Some excuse sinful words by saying they are honest, direct, tired, wounded, or provoked. But honesty is not permission to sin. Directness is not permission to be harsh. Weariness is not permission to murmur. Hurt is not permission to slander. Provocation is not permission to rail. Paul commands, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth” (Ephesians 4:29). He also commands that bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking, and malice be put away (Ephesians 4:31). Psalm 141:3 is the prayer that agrees with those commandments.
The verse also corrects religious speech that lacks fear. A man may speak much about doctrine, church, correction, enemies, standards, and Scripture, yet sin with his lips while doing so. Truth spoken proudly, cruelly, rashly, or deceitfully is still sin. The Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, and meek in instructing those that oppose themselves (2 Timothy 2:24-25). Boldness and a guarded mouth are not enemies. Faithfulness and a kept door belong together.
Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled this guarded speech. No corrupt word ever escaped His mouth. When tempted by Satan, He answered with Scripture (Matthew 4:4,7,10). When reviled, He reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously (1 Peter 2:23). Men tried to entangle Him in His talk, yet they could not take hold of His words before the people (Luke 20:20,26). He spoke truth with perfect timing, perfect restraint, perfect boldness, and perfect holiness. No watch was needed because no sin was within Him, yet His example teaches His people how the mouth should serve God.
Psalm 141:3 therefore gives a daily prayer for every saint. The mouth is near to sin, the lips open easily, and the heart has much corruption ready to escape. Let the believer ask Jehovah to set the watch and keep the door. Let him pray before conversations, before rebukes, before answering accusations, before giving counsel, before correcting children, before speaking in marriage, before preaching, before writing, and before replying in anger. The tongue is too dangerous to leave unguarded. The lips are too useful to leave unkept. Blessed is the man who can pray with David, “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”
Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
Psalm 141:3 is a short prayer with searching force. David is not only concerned with enemies outside him, but with sin that may break out from within him. The psalm begins with urgent prayer: “LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee” (v.1). He desires his prayer to be set before God as incense, and the lifting up of his hands as the evening sacrifice (v.2). Then, before asking that his heart not be inclined to any evil thing or that he not eat of the dainties of evil doers (v.4), he first prays for his mouth. This order is wise. The heart is the fountain, but the mouth is one of the first streams by which corruption appears.
“Set a watch.” David asks Jehovah to station a guard. A watchman is placed where danger is expected. Cities set watchmen on walls because enemies may approach (2 Samuel 18:24-27). Shepherds keep watch over flocks because danger may come by night (Luke 2:8). David asks God to set such a guard before his mouth because he knows danger may come through his speech. This is humility. He does not trust his own restraint. He does not say, I will manage my tongue unaided. He asks the LORD to appoint the guard.
The prayer assumes that the mouth is dangerous. James teaches this plainly: “the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity,” and “therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men” (James 3:6,9). Solomon wrote, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). Many sins enter public life through speech: lying, slander, boasting, railing, murmuring, flattering, foolish jesting, corrupt communication, angry words, rash vows, gossip, exaggeration, and deceit. David knew this danger and prayed before the sin broke out.
“O LORD.” David goes to Jehovah for government of his tongue. LORD in all capital letters is the King James Bible’s usual way of representing the divine name Jehovah. This is important. The tongue cannot be safely ruled by natural temperament, etiquette, education, fear of embarrassment, or public reputation. Men can learn polite speech while still having wicked speech. They can restrain words in one setting and unleash them in another. David asks Jehovah Himself to guard his mouth, for only God can govern the inward man from which words arise.
“Before my mouth.” The watch is set before the mouth, at the point where thoughts become words. This is prevention. David does not only ask forgiveness after speech has sinned; he asks restraint before the sin escapes. This is a wise pattern for prayer. “Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins” is better than asking pardon after presumptuous sins have ruled (Psalm 19:13). “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” is better than waiting until temptation has already conquered the tongue (Matthew 6:13). David asks God to stop the sin at the door.
The mouth reveals the heart. Jesus said, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). He also taught that what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart and defiles the man (Matthew 15:18-19). Therefore Psalm 141:3 is not a prayer for outward display. David is not asking God to help him sound careful while the heart remains corrupt. He wants God to guard the mouth because the mouth exposes the heart. Verse 4 confirms this, for he next prays, “Incline not my heart to any evil thing.” The guarded mouth and guarded heart belong together.
“Keep the door.” The figure changes but the thought continues. The lips are like a door. A door may open or shut. It may admit or restrain. It may release what should have stayed within, or keep back what should not be allowed out. David asks God to keep that door. This is a strong image for self-government by grace. The lips must not swing open to every thought, feeling, anger, complaint, or suspicion. A wise man does not open every door to every visitor, and a godly man must not open his lips to every inward motion.
Scripture repeatedly praises restraint at this door. “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19). “Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23). “He that hath knowledge spareth his words” (Proverbs 17:27). The door of the lips must be kept because many words provide many opportunities for sin. Silence is sometimes obedience. Restraint is sometimes wisdom. A closed door may be one of the greatest mercies God gives a man.
“Of my lips.” David is specific. He does not pray generally against sin while leaving speech untouched. He names the member needing rule. This is how prayer should often be made. A man who says only, Lord, help me, may still avoid confessing the particular place where he is weak. David names the mouth and lips. The angry man should pray over angry words. The talkative man should pray over many words. The fearful man should pray over murmuring words. The bitter man should pray over hard words. The proud man should pray over boasting words. The deceitful man should pray over lying words. The censorious man should pray over backbiting words. Godly prayer brings the actual member to God.
This verse is especially necessary under provocation. Psalm 141 is not written in ease. David faces wicked men and temptations around him (vv.4,9-10). Trouble often loosens the tongue. Persecution tempts a man to railing. False accusation tempts him to answer with bitterness. Delay tempts him to complaint. Fear tempts him to unbelieving speech. Anger tempts him to sharp words. David therefore prays before pressure becomes transgression. He would rather have God set a watch than let his enemies draw sin out of his mouth.
The connection to verse 5 is also important. The man who asks God to guard his mouth should also be willing to receive correction when his mouth fails. Verse 5 says, “Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities” (v.5). A guarded mouth and a correctable spirit belong together. The man who resents reproof usually has an unguarded tongue. David wants preservation from both: he does not want wicked enticements to corrupt him, and he does not want pride to reject righteous correction.
This verse warns against careless speech among believers. Some excuse sinful words by saying they are honest, direct, tired, wounded, or provoked. But honesty is not permission to sin. Directness is not permission to be harsh. Weariness is not permission to murmur. Hurt is not permission to slander. Provocation is not permission to rail. Paul commands, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth” (Ephesians 4:29). He also commands that bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking, and malice be put away (Ephesians 4:31). Psalm 141:3 is the prayer that agrees with those commandments.
The verse also corrects religious speech that lacks fear. A man may speak much about doctrine, church, correction, enemies, standards, and Scripture, yet sin with his lips while doing so. Truth spoken proudly, cruelly, rashly, or deceitfully is still sin. The Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, and meek in instructing those that oppose themselves (2 Timothy 2:24-25). Boldness and a guarded mouth are not enemies. Faithfulness and a kept door belong together.
Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled this guarded speech. No corrupt word ever escaped His mouth. When tempted by Satan, He answered with Scripture (Matthew 4:4,7,10). When reviled, He reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously (1 Peter 2:23). Men tried to entangle Him in His talk, yet they could not take hold of His words before the people (Luke 20:20,26). He spoke truth with perfect timing, perfect restraint, perfect boldness, and perfect holiness. No watch was needed because no sin was within Him, yet His example teaches His people how the mouth should serve God.
Psalm 141:3 therefore gives a daily prayer for every saint. The mouth is near to sin, the lips open easily, and the heart has much corruption ready to escape. Let the believer ask Jehovah to set the watch and keep the door. Let him pray before conversations, before rebukes, before answering accusations, before giving counsel, before correcting children, before speaking in marriage, before preaching, before writing, and before replying in anger. The tongue is too dangerous to leave unguarded. The lips are too useful to leave unkept. Blessed is the man who can pray with David, “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”