“Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!” Psalm 143:1
David models for every person the foundational discipline of turning to God. It is God who hears our prayer. It is God alone who can respond to our pleas for mercy. He hears and answers because he is faithful and righteous. This is pure mercy and grace. A true gift on difficult journeys.
“Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you.” Psalm 143:2
God hears our pleas and does not give us what we deserve. David asks that God not deliver a judgment. If righteousness is the requirement, not one living person could stand.
But now, we have a New Testament perspective—and Jesus is our righteousness!
“For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled.” Psalm 143:3-4
In a broken world, we are pursued, crushed, in darkness, fainting, and appalled. We need a Savior. We are helpless and needy recipients. That’s why we cry out for mercy. This is why we hide in his faithful righteousness.
“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah” Psalm 143:5-6
Memory is a friend when you can recall all that God has done. In the throes of brokenness, when you’re pursued by your enemy, it’s good to ponder the deeds done by the hand of God. Therefore, like a baby lifting his arms to a mother, we lift our hands to God. As desert sand soaks up water, we thirst for water in a parched land.
“Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.” Psalm 143:7
David turns to God for answers as his spirit fails him. He seeks the face of God and asks that God not hide his face from him. David knows that God is the only one who can keep him from the pit.
The face of God is a gift to mankind. We are his creation, and we seek his face.
“Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to you for refuge.” Psalm 143:8-9
As we near the end of The Psalms, the theme I see repeated throughout the psalter is the steadfast love of the Lord. If we hear of the Lord’s steadfast love in the morning, we are enabled to trust. We seek to walk in the ways of the Lord, and we know he lifts us up to know the ways we should go all the days of our lives. He guards our steps and delivers us from evil.
No wonder we flee to him for protection.
“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life! In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble! Psalm 143:10-11
We turn to God for protection, yet he has so much more for us. He leads us on level paths even in the turbulence of pain, brokenness, and loss. He teaches us his will and his ways. As it turns out, God preserves us for the sake of his own name. Let that sink in—he preserves us to make the renown of his own name evident to others.
Our enemies are thwarted because of his steadfast and lavish love. It’s no wonder we turn in reverent loyalty to our God to serve him and him only.
“And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.” Psalm 143:12
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