An Appeal For Deliverance.

AN APPEAL FOR DELIVERANCE.

Psalm 143:1-12.

Who are we going to turn to in a time of distress? For the believer, it can only be the LORD. We know that the LORD has helped us hitherto (cf. 1 Samuel 7:12), and that He is ‘a very present help in time of trouble’ (cf. Psalm 46:1).

PSALM 143:1. David doubles his petition at the court of the LORD with a sense of dependency: “hear” my prayer; “give ear” to my supplications. We cannot ‘boldly approach the throne of grace’ (cf. Hebrews 4:16) trusting in our ‘own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith’ (cf. Philippians 3:9). The Psalmist therefore appeals to the “faithfulness” and “righteousness” of the LORD (cf. 1 John 1:9).

PSALM 143:2. This verse is foundational to the biblical doctrine of justification by faith (cf. Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16). Before spelling out his troubles, David appeals for mercy, for forgiveness. Not because he is good but because, as the LORD’s “servant,” his faith is in the LORD.

PSALM 143:3-4. David’s need was very great. His enemy persecuted his “soul” and sought his “life,” so that David must dwell in caves and dens of the earth to escape his pursuer. “Therefore,” he admits, his “spirit” is overwhelmed within him, and his “heart” (as we might say) is broken.

PSALM 143:5. Then he “remembered” the days of old. There is plenty in Scripture, and plenty in Christian experience for us to look back upon. “I meditate on ALL thy works,” including the LORD’s works of mercy and works of preservation; “I muse on the work of thy hands,” reflecting upon the LORD’s works of creation and providence.

PSALM 143:6. When we thus think upon the LORD, what He has done hitherto, we have plenty of grounds for encouragement. We find ourselves eagerly yearning after the LORD, stretching out our hands toward Him, craving His parental embrace. We thirst for His reassurances as in a sun-parched land awaiting the rains from above.

“Selah” introduces a pause for thought. The Psalmist draws his breath, and gathers his strength for the barrage of petitions that follow.

PSALM 143:7. David pleads for a speedy answer to his prayer (cf. Isaiah 65:24), lest that, worse than the cave that he was in (cf. Psalm 143:3). his “spirit” becomes discouraged, and he becomes “like unto them that go down into the pit.” Please LORD, “hide not thy face from me.” Renew the sense of thy presence within me.

PSALM 143:8. May I awaken to a morning when I “hear thy loving kindness” anew (cf. Psalm 30:5). “In thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk” (cf. Psalm 25:4). I lift up my “soul” out of the darkness (cf. Psalm 143:3) “unto thee.”

‘The soul that trusts will rise’ (Spurgeon).

‘The night of distress and discouragement shall end in a morning of consolation and praise’ (Matthew Henry).

PSALM 143:9. Although David had found temporary refuge in a cave, it would not suffice. The “enemies,” for all he knew, might still be outside, so “I flee unto THEE to hide me.” Our ultimate refuge is in Jesus. a.k.a. ‘the right arm of (God’s) righteousness’ (cf. Isaiah 41:10).

PSALM 143:10. It is not enough just to ‘know the way’ (cf. Psalm 143:8), but we need to be taught to “do” God’s will. We cannot own the LORD as our God unless we have His good Spirit within us, to lead us and guide us “into the land of uprightness,” both present right living and the perfection of heaven. In other words, we can neither begin nor continue our Christian walk unless the LORD enables us.

PSALM 143:11. “Quicken me, O LORD.” We need the LORD to enliven us, and we pray that it may be so “for thy name’s sake,” because it will bring glory to His name. The Psalmist bases his appeal that his “soul” be brought out of trouble upon the “righteousness” of God.

PSALM 143:12. Finally, it is of the LORD’s “mercy” that we are not consumed by the “enemies” of our souls (cf. Lamentations 3:22). The imprecation at the end of the Psalm does not imply any malice on the part of David against Saul, but rather prophesies that those who “afflict the soul” of the LORD’s “servant” must ultimately be dealt with by God. “I am thy servant,” so I trust in thee.