Psalm 140:10 Study Bible: Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise.

◄ Psalm 140:10 ►

May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again.

May burning coals fall on them;
This phrase invokes imagery of divine retribution, reminiscent of the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24). In ancient Near Eastern culture, fire often symbolized purification and judgment. The psalmist's plea for burning coals reflects a desire for God's justice against the wicked, aligning with Proverbs 25:22, where coals are a metaphor for overcoming evil with good. The imagery also connects to the altar of incense in the tabernacle, where coals were used to burn incense, symbolizing prayers ascending to God (Exodus 30:1-10).

may they be thrown into the fire,
Fire is a recurring symbol of God's judgment throughout Scripture, as seen in the destruction of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-2) and the consuming fire on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:18). This phrase suggests a complete and consuming judgment, akin to the lake of fire described in Revelation 20:14-15. The psalmist's call for the wicked to be thrown into the fire underscores the severity of divine justice and the ultimate fate of unrepentant sinners.

into the miry pits,
Miry pits evoke images of Sheol or the grave, places of entrapment and destruction (Psalm 40:2). In ancient times, cisterns or pits were used as prisons or places of execution (Jeremiah 38:6). The psalmist's reference to miry pits suggests a desire for the wicked to be ensnared and rendered powerless, similar to the fate of Korah and his followers who were swallowed by the earth (Numbers 16:31-33). This imagery emphasizes the inescapable nature of divine judgment.

never to rise again.
This phrase indicates a final and irreversible judgment, echoing the fate of the wicked in Psalm 1:5, where they will not stand in the judgment. It reflects the ultimate defeat and destruction of evil, as seen in the prophetic visions of Daniel 12:2 and Revelation 20:10. The permanence of this judgment contrasts with the resurrection hope for the righteous, highlighting the psalmist's confidence in God's justice and the eventual triumph of righteousness over wickedness.

Persons / Places / Events

1. David
Traditionally attributed as the author of this psalm, David is expressing a plea for deliverance from evil men and seeking God's justice against his enemies.

2. Enemies of David
The psalm speaks against those who plot evil and violence, representing the broader theme of wickedness and opposition to God's anointed.

3. Burning Coals and Fire
Symbolic imagery used to describe divine judgment and retribution against the wicked.

4. Miry Pits
Represents a place of destruction and entrapment, emphasizing the finality of God's judgment on the wicked.

5. God's Justice
The overarching theme of the psalm, highlighting God's role as the righteous judge who protects the innocent and punishes the wicked.

Teaching Points

God's Righteous Judgment
God's justice is perfect and will ultimately prevail against all forms of wickedness.

The Power of Prayer in Adversity
Like David, believers are encouraged to bring their struggles and enemies before God, trusting in His deliverance and justice.

The Consequences of Wickedness
The imagery of fire and miry pits serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of living in opposition to God's will.

Trust in God's Timing
While we may desire immediate justice, we must trust in God's perfect timing and His ultimate plan for justice.

Responding to Enemies with Faith
Believers are called to respond to enemies with faith, leaving vengeance to God and seeking to live in peace and righteousness.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does understanding the context of David's life help us interpret his plea for justice in Psalm 140:10?

2. In what ways can the imagery of "burning coals" and "miry pits" be understood in the context of God's judgment throughout the Bible?

3. How can we reconcile the call for justice in Psalm 140:10 with Jesus' teaching to love our enemies?

4. What are some practical ways we can bring our struggles with adversaries to God in prayer, as David did?

5. How does the theme of divine justice in Psalm 140:10 encourage us to trust in God's ultimate plan for righteousness and justice in the world?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Psalm 11:6
This verse also speaks of God raining coals of fire on the wicked, reinforcing the theme of divine retribution.

Proverbs 25:21-22
While this passage encourages kindness to enemies, it also mentions "heaping burning coals" on their heads, suggesting a transformative or convicting effect.

Revelation 20:10
Describes the ultimate judgment and eternal punishment of Satan and his followers, paralleling the imagery of fire and finality.

Sermons

God Preserves His Servant		Psalm 140:1-13
Our Adversary and Our Defense	S. Conway	Psalm 140:1-13
The Holy War	C. Short	Psalm 140:1-13
The Intervention of God Sought	R. Tuck	Psalm 140:8-11

People

David, Psalmist

Places

Jerusalem

Topics

Arise, Burning, Cast, Cause, Coals, Deep, Fall, Fire, Flames, Miry, Pits, Rise, Themselves, Thrown, Waters, Whence

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Psalm 140:9-10

4318 coal

Library

Question Lxxxiii of Prayer
I. Is Prayer an Act of the Appetitive Powers? Cardinal Cajetan, On Prayer based on Friendship II. Is it Fitting to Pray? Cardinal Cajetan, On Prayer as a True Cause S. Augustine, On the Sermon on the Mount, II. iii. 14 " On the Gift of Perseverance, vii. 15 III. Is Prayer an Act of the Virtue of Religion? Cardinal Cajetan, On the Humility of Prayer S. Augustine, On Psalm cii. 10 " Of the Gift of Perseverance, xvi. 39 IV. Ought We to Pray to God Alone? S. Augustine, Sermon, cxxvii. 2 V. …
St. Thomas Aquinas—On Prayer and The Contemplative Life

Letter xxvi. (Circa A. D. 1127) to the Same
To the Same He excuses the brevity of his letter on the ground that Lent is a time of silence; and also that on account of his profession and his ignorance he does not dare to assume the function of teaching. 1. You will, perhaps, be angry, or, to speak more gently, will wonder that in place of a longer letter which you had hoped for from me you receive this brief note. But remember what says the wise man, that there is a time for all things under the heaven; both a time to speak and a time to keep …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Epistle xviii. To John, Bishop.
To John, Bishop. Gregory to John, Bishop of Constantinople [1586] . At the time when your Fraternity was advanced to Sacerdotal dignity, you remember what peace and concord of the churches you found. But, with what daring or with what swelling of pride I know not, you have attempted to seize upon a new name, whereby the hearts of all your brethren might have come to take offence. I wonder exceedingly at this, since I remember how thou wouldest fain have fled from the episcopal office rather than …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

How the Silent and the Talkative are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 15.) Differently to be admonished are the over-silent, and those who spend time in much speaking. For it ought to be insinuated to the over-silent that while they shun some vices unadvisedly, they are, without its being perceived, implicated in worse. For often from bridling the tongue overmuch they suffer from more grievous loquacity in the heart; so that thoughts seethe the more in the mind from being straitened by the violent guard of indiscreet silence. And for the most part they …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

A Discourse of Mercifulness
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7 These verses, like the stairs of Solomon's temple, cause our ascent to the holy of holies. We are now mounting up a step higher. Blessed are the merciful . . '. There was never more need to preach of mercifulness than in these unmerciful times wherein we live. It is reported in the life of Chrysostom that he preached much on this subject of mercifulness, and for his much pressing Christians to mercy, he was called of many, the alms-preacher, …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Covenanting a Privilege of Believers.
Whatever attainment is made by any as distinguished from the wicked, or whatever gracious benefit is enjoyed, is a spiritual privilege. Adoption into the family of God is of this character. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power (margin, or, the right; or, privilege) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."[617] And every co-ordinate benefit is essentially so likewise. The evidence besides, that Covenanting …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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