Psalms 143
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Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
3 For 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.
4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
7 Hear 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.
8 Cause 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.
9 Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
11 Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.
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Commentary
David was no stranger to conflict. Though he had enormous responsibility as the king of Israel, sometimes he created problems for himself through poor choices. And then there were all his wives and children…whew! It’s easy to imagine how he could be mentally anguished, his heart and soul in a very dark place, as this Psalm portrays.
What I love about David is that even when things got rough he didn’t blame God, but appealed to him for strength, comfort, and guidance. His impassioned words are evidence that he knew God was with him and would bring him through his trial, as He had done many times before, though David also understood that didn’t make his current situation any less painful. Along with begging for relief, David also had a desire to rely on God to direct his life. When he asked God to “teach me to do your will” and “cause me to know the way in which I should walk,” David wasn’t simply requesting that God make things all better, he was pleading for God’s help to keep things better. God wants us to come to him in our darkest moments, to pour out our struggling souls to Him, just as David did! His awesome power will sustain us through the night; we will realize His blessings when the morning dawns.
Karina Sherwin-Bloom
Oakwood Church, Taylor, Michigan USA
