Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 143

Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear... - See Psalms 4:1, note; Psalms 5:1, note.

In thy faithfulness answer me - That is, Show your faithfulness to your promises. God had made gracious promises to David , and he now pleads that God would remember those promises and accomplish on his behalf what He had said He would. God has also made gracious promises to His people, and they may always plead those promises as a reason why they should be heard and why their prayers should be answered.

And in thy righteousness - Compare Psalms 31:1. In your disposition to do right; to vindicate a righteous cause; to interpose when wrong is done. We, though sinners before God, may feel that our cause is a just one toward our fellow men, and, when wronged, we may ask God to interpose, as a righteous God, on our behalf. We cannot, however, ask Him to save us on the ground of our righteousness toward Him, for we have no such righteousness. See Psalms 143:2.

And enter not into judgment with thy servant - Do not deal with me on the ground of justice as toward you; do not mark my own offences against you, when I plead that justice may be done as between me and my fellow men. While I plead that you would judge righteously between me and them, I am conscious that I could not claim your needed interposition on the ground of any righteousness toward you. There I must confess that I am a sinner; there I can rely only on mercy; there I could not hope to be justified.

For in thy sight - As before you; in your presence; by you.

Shall no man living - No one of the race, no matter what his rank, his outward conduct, his gentleness, his amiableness, his kindness; no matter how just and upright he may be toward his fellow men.

Be justified - Be regarded as righteous; be acquitted from blame; be held to be innocent. The meaning is, “I do not come before you and plead for your favor on the ground of any claim on you, for I am conscious that I am a sinner, and that my only hope is in your mercy.” See the notes at (Romans 3:20). Compare (Job 4:17); (Job 9:2, 9:20); (Job 15:14–16); (Job 25:4–6).

This is a great and momentous truth in regard to man; it is the foundation of the necessity for a plan of salvation through an atonement—for some way in which man may properly be regarded and treated as righteous. Assuredly every man, conscious of what he is in himself, may and should fervently pray that God would not enter into judgment with him; that he would not mark his offences; that he would not judge him as strict justice would demand. Our hope is in the mercy, not in the justice of God.

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul — Has persecuted me; has sought my life.

He hath smitten my life down to the ground — He has, as it were, trampled me down to the earth. The word rendered “smitten” means to break in pieces, to beat small, to crush. See (Psalms 72:4; Psalms 89:10; Job 6:9). His very life seemed to be crushed out as one that is trodden down to the ground.

He hath made me to dwell in darkness — He has made my life like that of one who dwells in darkness; he has made it a life of sorrow, so that I have no comfort—no light.

As those that have been long dead — A similar expression occurs in (Lamentations 3:6): He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old. The same Hebrew words are used. The word rendered “long” means age, duration, eternity: (Psalms 139:24). The idea here is that his condition was like that of those who had been long in their graves, who had long since ceased to see any light, whose abode was utter and absolute gloom.

Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me - See the notes at (Psalms 77:3). Compare (Psalms 42:5–7). His spirit was broken and crushed. He was in a state of despair as to any human help.

My heart within me is desolate - I have no comfort; no cheerfulness; no hope. My soul is like the waste desert where there is no water; where nothing grows; where there are only rocks and sands.

I remember the days of old - Former times.

1. as contrasted with my present condition.
2. as times when I called upon you, and you interposed.
3. as encouraging me now to come to you, and spread out my case before you. See (Psalms 77:5–11), note; (Psalms 42:4), note.

I meditate on all thy works ... - On what you have done; on your gracious interpositions in the time of trial; on the manifestations of your power in my behalf, and in behalf of your people. I call all this to mind, remembering that you are an unchangeable God; that you have the same power still; that you can interpose now as you did then; and that, as an unchangeable God, you will do it in the same circumstances. I, therefore, come to you, and pray that you will interpose in my behalf.