Psa 143:3 | KingComments | STEP | The opposition the psalmist experiences is described in general terms, which makes the psalm of general application, even for us ( ). He says that the enemy persecutes his soul and crushes his life to the ground, making him feel that he dwells in dark places, like those who have long been dead (cf. ; ). He no longer imagines himself in the land of the living, as one who has been given up by God and men. It does indicate how violently he is persecuted. In addition to outward persecution, there is also inward pressure. Because of the fierce persecution, his lust to live has perished ( ). His spirit is overwhelmed within him; he is near despair. His heart is appalled within him. Inside him there is no hope of outcome. This is the situation in which the believing remnant will be because of the threat of their enemies. His thoughts do not stop ( ). He remembers, meditates on and muses on what God has done in the past. In his mind he goes back to “the days of old” (cf. ), to God’s dealings with the patriarchs, the formation of His people and their deliverance from the bondage of Egypt. He meditates “on all Your doings” and muses “on the work of Your hands”, where, with respect to the remnant, we can think of God’s actions for the deliverance of His own from the hands of the antichrist and the king of the North. When the faithful remembers God in this way, and meditates and muses on what He has done, he cannot help but stretch out his hands to Him in prayer ( ; cf. ). To whom else could he go? He needs God as urgently as parched land is thirsty for rain (cf. ).

‏ Psalms 143:3

Reason for Supplications

The opposition the psalmist experiences is described in general terms, which makes the psalm of general application, even for us (Psa 143:3). He says that the enemy persecutes his soul and crushes his life to the ground, making him feel that he dwells in dark places, like those who have long been dead (cf. Jer 51:39; Lam 3:6). He no longer imagines himself in the land of the living, as one who has been given up by God and men. It does indicate how violently he is persecuted.

In addition to outward persecution, there is also inward pressure. Because of the fierce persecution, his lust to live has perished (Psa 143:4). His spirit is overwhelmed within him; he is near despair. His heart is appalled within him. Inside him there is no hope of outcome. This is the situation in which the believing remnant will be because of the threat of their enemies.

His thoughts do not stop (Psa 143:5). He remembers, meditates on and muses on what God has done in the past. In his mind he goes back to “the days of old” (cf. Psa 77:5), to God’s dealings with the patriarchs, the formation of His people and their deliverance from the bondage of Egypt. He meditates “on all Your doings” and muses “on the work of Your hands”, where, with respect to the remnant, we can think of God’s actions for the deliverance of His own from the hands of the antichrist and the king of the North.

When the faithful remembers God in this way, and meditates and muses on what He has done, he cannot help but stretch out his hands to Him in prayer (Psa 143:6; cf. Lam 1:17). To whom else could he go? He needs God as urgently as parched land is thirsty for rain (cf. Psa 42:1-2 ; Psa 63:1).