Psalm 143 fits the pattern of so many of David’s psalms.
The first verses reveal his pain, his feelings, his despair, his grief, that
reveal his desperate circumstances. He acknowledges that he is surrounded by
his enemies. Remember his greatest and worse enemies were not the hated
Philistines, but often it was those who were close to him. Sometimes it was his
own family members, other times it was those he thought were his friends and
counselors. David begins many of his psalms speaking of how his spirit is overwhelmed
and his soul is full of troubles. This prompts him to cry out to the LORD for
help and deliverance.
In the first six verses of Psalm 143, David asks for God to
“hear his prayer and give ear to his supplications”. He recalls and
appeals to God’s faithfulness and His righteousness and pleads for mercy not
judgment. (vs. 1-2). Now in verses 7-12, David is asking God to “answer him
speedily” and with expectation and anticipation waits for the LORD to
deliver him (v. 9), and to cut off and destroy his enemies (v. 12). Did you
notice how most of the verses begin? “Answer me”, “Cause me”, “Deliver me”, “Teach
me”, “Revive me”.
The answers for which David was waiting anxiously are the
same answers we want to receive today. For one thing, we want to see God's face
(v. 7). David had often heard the priestly benediction declare that God's face
would shine upon His people in gracious blessing (Num. 6:22-27), but if He was
displeased, He would hide His face from them (Psalms 10:1; 13:1; 69:17; 102:2).
To know the shining of His face means to walk in the light of His countenance
and enjoy the smile of God upon our lives, but the absence of that blessing was
like a living death (Psalm 28:1).
We also want to hear God's Word (v. 8). To see His smile
and hear His voice gives us the strength we need to overcome the enemy. David
moved from the darkness he was experiencing in verse 3, to the morning and the
dawning of a new day in verse 8. David expressed this desire in many of his
prayers in psalms (Psalms 5:3; 30:5; 59:16; 88:13; 130:6; 90:14). The Word
reminded him of God's unfailing love, and the Word strengthened his faith (Rom.
10:17) and gave him guidance on the dangerous path he had to take from the cave
to the crown.
We also want the blessing of experiencing the protection of
God (v. 9). Jehovah was David's "Rock" in which he took “shelter” (Psalms
18:2, 31, 46; 19:14). He knew he could hide himself in "the cleft of the
Rock" (Ex. 33:22) and be safe from his enemies. This reminds us of the old
hymn, "Rock of ages/ Cleft for me/ Let me hide myself in Thee."
Another answer we want to receive from the Lord is a
knowledge of the will of God (v. 10). His good Spirit, (Neh. 9:20), teaches us
from the Word and shows us the path we should take (Psalm 119:105). A knowledge
of God's will is what gives us confidence in the difficulties of life; it keeps
us going when the going gets tough.
Finally, God answers prayer by helping us bring glory to
His great name (vv. 11-12). "For Your name's sake" and “for
Your righteousness’ sake…” was the
great motivation of David's life and ministry (1 Sam. 17:26, 36, 45-47). "Hallowed
be Thy name" is the first request in the Lord's Prayer, and it ought
to be the motivation of all our prayers. David knew that he had a great work to
do for the Lord, and he depended on the Lord to help him accomplish it and
bring honor to His name.
May the LORD help us to follow this pattern of prayer in
our lives!
God bless!
