THE *BOOK OF
PSALMS.

Psalm 143

1David prayeth to be considered with favour in judgment: 3his griefs caused by his enemy's persecution: 5he strengtheneth his faith by meditation and prayer: 7he prayeth for speedy help and deliverance, 10for God's guidance and support, 12and destruction of his enemies.


0 A1 Psalm of David.

1 Some perceive that David made this psalm when Absalom pursued him; others, when Saul was at his heels.

1HEAR my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness 2answer me, and 3in thy righteousness.

2 As if he said: Since I suffer so much wrong and violence of mine enemies, let me entreat Thee, O Lord, that as a righteous Judge, Thou wilt no longer permit the same.

3 That is, for Thy righteousness’ sake. See Psalm 31:1.

2And 4enter not into judgment with thy servant: fora in thy sight shall no man living 5be justified.

4 That is, do not summon me into the court of justice, and do not deal with me according to my deserts. See Job 22:4.

a Romans 3 and 4; Galatians 3 and 4.

5 Namely, by the works of the law, and being considered in himself as a son of Adam. See Job 4:17; 9:2, 3; 15:14; 25:4. See also the annotation on 1 Kings 11 on verse 34.

36For the 7enemy hath persecuted 8my soul; 9he hath smitten 10my life down to the ground; 11he hath made me to dwell in darkness, 12as those that have been long dead.

6 These words depend on the first verse of this psalm.

7 Namely, Saul and his adherents.

8 That is, my life or person, as Psalm 6:3.

9 That is, he touches so hard after and upon me, that I have scarce life left in me; or, he will soon overtake and trample us under foot, unless Thou dost not speedily deliver us out of his hands.

10 Other, my troop, band or company; that is, all those who are with me. See Psalm 141:7.

11 That is, he makes me and those who follow me to creep into holes and corners to hide ourselves from his fury, because David had his abode for a good while in caves, together with the men who followed him; see the second annotation at Psalm 142 in the title.

12 As if he said: We creep into holes and caves in and underground, being in that regard like unto them that are dead and buried long ago.

4Therefore is my spirit 13overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is 14desolate.

13 The sense is: Very many waves of adversity do overtake me, the one before, the other after, that I am ready to faint and perish under them.

14 Other, my heart is much astonished within me.

5 Ib15remember the days of old; I meditate on all 16thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

b Psalm 77:5, 10.

15 As if he said: When I find myself thus anguished and perplexed, I can find nothing which comforts me better as to call to my mind, how Thou hast formerly assisted and delivered me. It seems David’s eye reflects principally here upon that time, when after the victory over his enemies, the people welcomed and received him with shouts and rejoicing, 1 Samuel 17 and 18.

16 Namely, which Thou hast done for and by me.

617I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, 18as a thirsty land. Selah.

17 See the annotation on Psalm 141 on verse 2.

18 Or, as a dry land. See Psalm 63 on verse 1. The sense might be supplied thus: Even as a dry or thirsty land doth long for rain, so thirsteth my soul after Thee, Psalm 42:1, 2.

7Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: 19hide not thy face from me, lest I be like 20unto them that go down into the pit.

19 That is, turn not away from me, forsake me not.

20 That is, to those who are ever ready to give up the ghost, Psalm 28:1; 88:4.

8Cause me to hear 21thy lovingkindness 22in the morning; for in thee do I trust: 23cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; forc I lift up 24my soul 25unto thee.

21 That is, the good and comfortable news of Thy kindness Thou wilt show me, by turning Saul back again, from pursuing thus fiercely after me.

22 That is, early, speedily, without long delay.

23 That is, teach me what to do to escape the danger wherein I am. See Psalm 142:3. Or, make known unto me the way which I am to walk in to please Thee.

c Psalm 25:1.

24 That is, my mind.

25 As to Him Whom I hold and honor as my sole Protector and Savior.

9Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee 26unto thee to hide me.

26 Namely, under the shadow of Thy wings, as the prophet speaks in Psalm 57:1.

10Teach me to do 27thy will; for 28thou art my God: 29thy spirit is good; lead me 30into the land of uprightness.

27 Or, thy will, or thy good pleasure, or well pleasing; as Psalm 40:8.

28 Whom I both will and must obey.

29 Understand here the Holy Spirit.

30 That is, in the way which I may cheerfully walk without obstruction or stumbling block; whereby is understood the way of righteousness, prescribed in the law of God; or, it may be David understands here by the way the means unto which he would apply himself to escape safely from his enemies.

1131Quicken 32me, O LORD, 33for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring 34my soul out of trouble.

31 Or, Save me alive.

32 Who is almost dead and gone. See verses 3 and 7.

33 That is, that I may praise and celebrate Thy Name, Psalm 142:7.

34 That is, my life, myself.

12And of thy mercy 35cut off mine enemies, and 36destroy all them that afflict my soul: 37ford I am thy servant.

35 Here the prophet reflects upon the promise which God made to Abraham and to his seed, Gen. 12:3.

36 Here the prophet reflects upon the promise which God made to Abraham and to his seed, Gen. 12:3.

37 That is, I do obey and serve Thee with diligence, according to the precepts of Thy law.

d Psalm 86:16; 116:16.