Psalm 143
The Cry of the Faithful When the Soul Is Overwhelmed
The Cry of the Faithful When the Soul Is Overwhelmed
Psalm 143. This Psalm of David gives the cry of the faithful when their soul is overwhelmed. They call out to Jehovah to answer their prayer speedily, before it is too late. They pray for refuge from a coming attack, and revival. Prophetically, this looks forward to the second attack of the Assyrian (Gog and Magog).
PSALM 143
A Psalm of David.
1 Jehovah, hear my prayer; give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, in thy righteousness.
2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight no man living shall be justified.
vv.1-2 That Jehovah Might Hear. The intensity has increased again. No supplication (singular) in Psalm 142 is exchanged for supplications (plural) in Psalm 143. The soul abandons all though of merit in self for the favor of God. In fact, he pleads with God not to deal with him on the ground of His own righteousness; “enter not into judgment with thy servant; for in thy sight no man living shall be justified”. What a place to be brought!
3 For the enemy persecuteth my soul: he hath crushed my life down to the earth; he hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead.
4 And my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
5 I remember the days of old: I meditate on all thy doing; I muse on the work of thy hands.
6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul, as a parched land, thirsteth after thee. Selah.
vv.3-6 The Low Point. In these verses we reach the low point. The life of the faithful is crushed down to the earth, their spirit is overwhelmed, and their heart is desolate. They remember the days of old, stretch forth their hands to God in dependence; “my soul, as a parched land, thirsteth after thee”.
7 Answer me speedily, O Jehovah; my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, or I shall be like unto them that go down into the pit.
8 Cause me to hear thy loving-kindness in the morning, for in thee do I confide; make me to know the way wherein I should walk, for unto thee do I lift up my soul.
9 Deliver me, O Jehovah, from mine enemies: unto thee do I flee for refuge.
10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: let thy good Spirit lead me in a plain country.
11 Revive me, O Jehovah, for thy name’s sake; in thy righteousness bring my soul out of trouble;
12 And in thy loving-kindness cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that oppress my soul: for I am thy servant.
vv.7-12 That Jehovah Might Answer. The faithful cry out that Jehovah might answer their prayer quickly, before they perish. They have placed their confidence solely in Jehovah. He is there only hope: there is no “backup plan”. They pray, “Answer me”, “Cause me”, “Deliver me”, “Teach me”, and “Revive me”. They long for the blessing of the Holy Spirit (v.10). They plead for intervention for Jehovah’s name’s sake, and on the ground of His own righteousness and loving-kindness. The confess “I am thy servant”, and deliver up their cause totally to His hands.