Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 143
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 143
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 143
"Hear my prayer, O Jehovah; give ear to my supplications: In thy faithfulness answer me, [and] in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with thy servant; For in thy sight no man living is righteous. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; He hath smitten my life down to the ground: He hath made me to dwell in dark places, as those that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is desolate. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy doings; I muse on the work of thy hands. I spread forth my hands unto thee: My soul [thirsteth] after thee, as a weary land. Selah" — Psalms 143:1-6 (ASV)
We have no righteousness of our own to plead; therefore, we must plead God's righteousness and the word of promise which He has freely given us and has caused us to hope in. David, before he prays for the removal of his trouble, prays for the pardon of his sin and depends upon mercy alone for it. He bemoans the weight upon his mind from outward troubles.
But he looks back and remembers God's former intervention for His afflicted people, and for him in particular. He looks around and notices the works of God. The more we consider the power of God, the less we will fear the face or force of man. He looks up with earnest desires toward God and His favor.
This is the best course we can take when our spirits are overwhelmed. The believer will not forget that in his best actions he is a sinner. Meditation and prayer will recover us from distresses; then the mourning soul strives to return to the Lord, as the infant stretches out its hands to the indulgent mother and thirsts for His consolations as the parched ground for refreshing rain.
"Make haste to answer me, O Jehovah; my spirit faileth: Hide not thy face from me, Lest I become like them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; For in thee do I trust: Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; For I lift up my soul unto thee. Deliver me, O Jehovah, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. Teach me to do thy will; For thou art my God: Thy Spirit is good; Lead me in the land of uprightness. Quicken me, O Jehovah, for thy name`s sake: In thy righteousness bring my soul out of trouble. And in thy lovingkindness cut off mine enemies, And destroy all them that afflict my soul; For I am thy servant. " — Psalms 143:7-12 (ASV)
David prays that God would be well pleased with him, and let him know that He was so. He pleads the wretchedness of his case if God withdrew from him. But the night of distress and discouragement shall end in a morning of consolation and praise.
He prays that he might be enlightened with the knowledge of God's will; and this is the first work of the Spirit. A good man does not ask for the most pleasant way to walk, but for the right way. Not only show me what your will is, but teach me how to do it.
Those who have the Lord for their God have his Spirit for their Guide; they are led by the Spirit. He prays that he might be enlivened to do God's will. But we should especially seek the destruction of our sins, our worst enemies, that we may be devotedly God's servants.
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