David
Psalm 143
A Psalm of David.
Scripture (KJV)
1Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
2And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
3For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
4Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
5I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
6I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
7Hear me speedily, O Lord; my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
9Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
10Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
11Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.
Summary
Psalm 143 is the last of the traditional Penitential Psalms and a lament of David under severe persecution. He pleads for God to answer in faithfulness and righteousness, immediately confessing that no one living can be justified in God’s sight. The enemy has crushed him to the ground and made him dwell in darkness like the long dead, so that his spirit is overwhelmed and his heart desolate. In that darkness David does two things: he remembers the days of old and meditates on all God’s works, and he stretches out his hands like a thirsty land longing for God. He asks God to make him hear His lovingkindness in the morning, to teach him to do God’s will, and to lead him by His good Spirit into the land of uprightness.
The major themes are repentance, lament, meditation on God’s works, guidance, and quickening. The prayer "Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God" is the center of the psalm. Practically, it teaches that when the spirit fails, the remedy is to remember God’s past works, thirst for His presence, and ask for His morning mercy and guiding Spirit. The great lesson is that the overwhelmed soul is heard by the God of lovingkindness.
Key Themes
A Prayer from Psalm 143
Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my supplications. In Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your righteousness do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living can be justified. The enemy has persecuted my soul and made me dwell in darkness. Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed and my heart desolate. I remember the days of old and meditate on all Your works. I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You as a thirsty land. Hear me speedily; hide not Your face from me. Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, and teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Lead me by Your good Spirit into the land of uprightness. Quicken me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection Questions
- 1When my spirit is overwhelmed, do I remember God’s past works as David did?
- 2What would it mean to "hear thy lovingkindness in the morning"?
- 3Where do I need God to teach me to do His will rather than my own?
- 4How can I let God’s good Spirit lead me into the land of uprightness?
Related Psalms
Psalm 51
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.”
David’s great prayer of repentance; a broken and contrite heart God will not despise.
Read morePsalm 130
“Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.”
Psalm 130 is one of the "Penitential Psalms" and a Song of Ascents, beginning in the depths and rising to hope.
Read morePsalm 142
“I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.”
Psalm 142 is a maskil of David, composed when he was hiding in a cave—likely during his flight from Saul.
Read morePsalm 6
“O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.”
A penitent plea for mercy in sickness and distress, ending in confident hope.
Read morePsalm 25
“Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.”
An acrostic prayer for guidance, forgiveness, and deliverance.
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