Psa 143:2 | KingComments | STEP | Psalm 143 is the seventh and last of the ‘penitential psalms’ (Psalms 6; 32; 38; 51; 102; 130; 143). This psalm is a profound and persistent prayer in distress from which we can learn. Psalms 141-143 are a retrospective look at the attack by the enemies of the people in the end time on Jerusalem and the feelings it creates among the remnant. In that attack, the land, the city, and the temple were destroyed and two-thirds of the people were killed ( ). What David does in Psalm 141 and Psalm 142, spreading his distress before the LORD ( ), is now repeated more deeply and at greater length. The tone in Psalm 143 is deeper, the need is greater, there is urgency. It feels in as if the funeral is already underway. The psalmist asks if the LORD will destroy the enemy without further delay. The remnant spreads its agony and distress before the LORD, as Hezekiah once did ( ). Psalm 143 bears resemblance to Psalm 140. As in that psalm, David in this psalm cries out to God to save him from his enemies who are about to kill him. We also find here, as in Psalm 140, how during his prayer David grows from despair to trust in God that He will save. We see here, what we ourselves often experience, that after an acquired trust that God will help, which we see in Psalm 140, we will again find ourselves in need and will again cry out to God, which we see in this psalm. We will also, like David, again have the experience of His salvation. It is also difficult for us to constantly live at the same level of faith confidence, although we know so much more of Christ and have received His Spirit indwelling. That said, such experiences give us a deeper sense of our own smallness and powerlessness and also a greater sense of Who God is. For “a Psalm of David” ( ) see at Psalm 3:1. David is in great distress and turns to God in prayer for relief ( ). For he believes in God as the listening, involved God. He asks Him to hear his prayer and to give ear to his supplications. As ground for being answers he mentions God’s “faithfulness” and God’s “righteousness”. God’s faithfulness is connected to His promises. God’s righteousness is connected to His actions. He does what He promises. His faithfulness and righteousness are based on His covenant. God is faithful and righteous toward the Lord Jesus and His blood when He answers the psalmist’s prayer ( ). David is aware of God’s righteousness and of his own iniquity ( ). He does not appeal to his innocence here, as he does in other psalms. In those cases, it is a false accusation by men. Here he is face to face with God. This causes a soul-searching struggle in him that will also be found in the remnant. The soul struggle is evident in the question whether the LORD will not enter into judgment with them, for they are aware of their failure. He asks God to hear him and give ear to him despite his iniquity. In doing so, he takes the place of the supplicant who appeals to the faithfulness and righteousness of God. These are based on the blood of the new covenant, that is, on the sacrifice of Christ on the cross of Calvary. There is no thought in his mind of ‘a claim’ to be answered. He comes to God as His servant, thus indicating that he claims no right, for a servant has no rights (cf. ). In the end time, when the remnant is threatened by hostile powers, it will inwardly bring about an agony over their sins. It is about two great sins: the rejection of Christ and the acceptance of the antichrist ( ). We see these sins and the torment it causes in his conscience in the life of David as a result of his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah. We also see it in the brothers of Joseph who are tormented by their rejection of their brother.

‏ Psalms 143:2

Introduction

Psalm 143 is the seventh and last of the ‘penitential psalms’ (Psalms 6; 32; 38; 51; 102; 130; 143). This psalm is a profound and persistent prayer in distress from which we can learn.

Psalms 141-143 are a retrospective look at the attack by the enemies of the people in the end time on Jerusalem and the feelings it creates among the remnant. In that attack, the land, the city, and the temple were destroyed and two-thirds of the people were killed (Zec 13:8). What David does in Psalm 141 and Psalm 142, spreading his distress before the LORD (Psa 142:3), is now repeated more deeply and at greater length.

The tone in Psalm 143 is deeper, the need is greater, there is urgency. It feels in Psa 143:7 as if the funeral is already underway. The psalmist asks if the LORD will destroy the enemy without further delay. The remnant spreads its agony and distress before the LORD, as Hezekiah once did (Isa 37:14-20).

Psalm 143 bears resemblance to Psalm 140. As in that psalm, David in this psalm cries out to God to save him from his enemies who are about to kill him. We also find here, as in Psalm 140, how during his prayer David grows from despair to trust in God that He will save.

We see here, what we ourselves often experience, that after an acquired trust that God will help, which we see in Psalm 140, we will again find ourselves in need and will again cry out to God, which we see in this psalm. We will also, like David, again have the experience of His salvation.

It is also difficult for us to constantly live at the same level of faith confidence, although we know so much more of Christ and have received His Spirit indwelling. That said, such experiences give us a deeper sense of our own smallness and powerlessness and also a greater sense of Who God is.

Call for Answer

For “a Psalm of David” (Psa 143:1a) see at Psalm 3:1.

David is in great distress and turns to God in prayer for relief (Psa 143:1b). For he believes in God as the listening, involved God. He asks Him to hear his prayer and to give ear to his supplications. As ground for being answers he mentions God’s “faithfulness” and God’s “righteousness”. God’s faithfulness is connected to His promises. God’s righteousness is connected to His actions. He does what He promises. His faithfulness and righteousness are based on His covenant. God is faithful and righteous toward the Lord Jesus and His blood when He answers the psalmist’s prayer (1Jn 1:9).

David is aware of God’s righteousness and of his own iniquity (Psa 143:2). He does not appeal to his innocence here, as he does in other psalms. In those cases, it is a false accusation by men. Here he is face to face with God. This causes a soul-searching struggle in him that will also be found in the remnant. The soul struggle is evident in the question whether the LORD will not enter into judgment with them, for they are aware of their failure.

He asks God to hear him and give ear to him despite his iniquity. In doing so, he takes the place of the supplicant who appeals to the faithfulness and righteousness of God. These are based on the blood of the new covenant, that is, on the sacrifice of Christ on the cross of Calvary. There is no thought in his mind of ‘a claim’ to be answered. He comes to God as His servant, thus indicating that he claims no right, for a servant has no rights (cf. Lk 17:10).

In the end time, when the remnant is threatened by hostile powers, it will inwardly bring about an agony over their sins. It is about two great sins: the rejection of Christ and the acceptance of the antichrist (Jn 5:43). We see these sins and the torment it causes in his conscience in the life of David as a result of his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah. We also see it in the brothers of Joseph who are tormented by their rejection of their brother.