“A Psalm of David.”
“Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your righteousness.” Psalm 143:1
David expressed his desire to God for a quick response. He asked God to answer his prayer according to God’s faithfulness and righteousness.
In Romans 4:5-8, Paul wrote, “To him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: ‘Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.’”
David was a blessed man because he believed that God had forgiven his sins. He knew that God counted him righteous in sight because he truly believed in God.
In John 3:16, God says to us that He “so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
“Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous.” Psalm 143:2
David knew that no person can stand before God on the basis of his own righteous merits. No one can claim that he has never sinned or that he does not deserve to die due to his sins. No one has enough righteous merits of his own to offer as payment for his guilt.
Thus, we can pray David’s prayer in the following manner, “Heavenly Father, please don’t judge me since You have already judged Your Son by placing my sin upon Him.
Essentially, David asked God to answer his prayer based on His grace and forgiveness. He states just what the Gospel says that no one is righteous except God, and that God is the only One who can justify us. God did this by having Christ live a sinless life in human flesh and pay humanity’s sin debt when He died on the cross for us.
Praise God that He forgives our sins for Christ’s sake. God saves us. He adopts us who believe in Him to be His sons and daughters! Being a member of God’s family is the best identity of all!
“For the enemy has persecuted my soul. He has crushed my life to the ground. He has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been dead.” Psalm 143:3
King Saul persecuted David’s soul with relentless hatred. His bitterness and envy toward David was crushing him and leaving him in the shadow of the valley of death. He dwelt in a dark cave with dark thoughts, fears, and discouragement. At times, he felt dead inside.
“Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me. My heart within me is distressed.” Psalm 143:4
Like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, David had great sorrow. His king and father-in-law whom he tried so hard to please, hunted him as though he was an evil beast.
David could not control his circumstances, but he could lean on God for inner peace.
“I remember the days of old. I meditate on all Your works. I muse on the work of Your hands.” Psalm 143:5
David remembered the various ways in which God helped him in the past to revive his faith in God for another victory during his current season of difficulties.
When facing trouble, it helps to remember the great things God has done in the Bible, and the great things God has done in your past. Remembering God’s past faithfulness gives us bright hope for the future. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
The God who created and sustains the whole universe is not daunted to handle whatever problems that we bring to Him. He just speaks the Word and the problems are resolved.
“I spread out my hands to You. My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah!” Psalm 143:6
David stretched forth his hands to God like someone asking for help and expecting to receive something valuable. He was ready to receive whatever God chose to give him.
He compared his soul to a desert which only God could revive with an outpouring of His Spirit.
“Answer me speedily, O Lord. My spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit.” Psalm 143:7
David needs rescued. He has no hope for salvation apart from God. Without God’s help he will definitely descend into a pit from which there is no escape. He viewed God as his deliverer.
“Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.” Psalm 143:8
God is love. Thus, God’s lovingkindness is revealed to us in His Word and in His works. Such thoughts build one’s faith in God’s readiness and power to help us.
“Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies. In You I take shelter.” Psalm 143:9
David does not want his enemies to succeed against him. Those who make God their hiding place through faith will find Him to be a secure refuge. [1]
“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.” Psalm 143:10
David asked God to teach him His will. The work of the Holy Spirit is to help us understand God’s will and to implement it. God’s Spirit shows us God’s chosen path for us.
Jesus taught us by way of example to pray to God, saying, “Not my will but Your will be done.”
God knows the way to the land of uprightness. His grace to us in Christ Jesus keeps us moving forward on the right path. His Spirit will even provide us strength for the journey.
David declares to God, “Your Spirit is good.” It is a wonderful blessing to be led by God’s Spirit.
“Revive me, O Lord, for Your Name’s sake! For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.” Psalm 143:11
David asked God to revive Him for the sake of God’s Name. To save his soul from trouble for the sake of God’s righteousness! He wanted people to see God’s glory, and then, to give God glory!
“In Your mercy cut off my enemies and destroy all those who afflict my soul; for I am Your servant.” Psalm 143:12
David asked God to deliver him from his soul’s enemies. He considered attempts to sabotage his faith in God as soul-afflictions. David professed himself to be God’s servant. God was his faithful friend. He wanted to be such a friend to God.
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