Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 143:1-6

"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.