Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 143

Faithfulness ... righteousness. —The first word recalls the covenant promise, the second the faith, expressed so frequently, on which the covenant rested, that the Judge of all the world must do right. St. John founds the appeal for forgiveness on the same pair of Divine qualities (1 John 1:9).

And enter not. — Divine justice has just been invoked, and now the one who appeals suddenly seems to protest against it. These verses truly summarize the apparent paradox of the Book of Job, just as the expressions also recall that book. (Job 9:2; Job 9:32; Job 14:3 and following; Job 15:14; Job 22:4, and so on.)

In one breath, Job frequently pours out impassioned declarations of his innocence, fearing that God might take him at his word and bring him to trial.

A person, in their desire to have their character vindicated before others, appeals to the just Judge, but instantly recoils with a guilty sense that no one can stand before that tribunal:

“For merit lives from man to man,
And not from man, O Lord, to Thee.”

Shall ... be justified. — This follows the Septuagint; better, is just.

This verse explains the previous verse. The affliction under which the psalmist suffers is evidence that God is bringing judgment for sin.

He has made ... — See Lamentations 3:6; and compare Psalms 88:5-6.

Long dead. — Literally, either dead of old, or dead for ever, depending on whether we take ‘ôlam to refer to past or future time. Septuagint, νεκροὺς αἰῶνος; Vulgate, mortuos sæculi.

See Psalms 142:3, and Notes.

Is desolate. —Or, more literally, as in Isaiah 59:16; Isaiah 63:5, and others, wondered; literally, fills itself with astonishment.

See Psalms 77:5-6.