Psalm 143 Commentary
“No one is innocent,” David says. He, therefore, prays, “Teach me to do your will.”
Then he turns his attention to a not a little matter of his troubles. His enemies have completely defeated him. He is in deep despair. “I’m ready to give up,” He says.
Saints dread this position. No one wants to confess it. Our understanding of faith demands that we don’t use words like these in the presence of God. To feel defeated completely and to feel zero hope is counter-faith.
Are there times when the saint feels like David felt?
There is no better time to pray! The LORD is faithful. David remembers the days gone by. They remind him of God’s faithfulness. There is no better time to turn to the scriptures! Let them remind you of God’s loving interventions.
There are times when prayer cannot be said with hands in the pocket. Lift them up to God in prayer. Know that the LORD is your only option. Without him, you are dead and out.
It is a moment of zero options. You want the LORD to remind you of His love every morning.
The irony of this psalm is that David knows his role in the play of life.
At one point, he is the oppressor. Remember the Bathsheba incident. If we listened to Bathsheba’s husband’s prayer, David would be the enemy to kill, the wicked whose punishment the saint can pray for.
Under these circumstances, David prays for forgiveness. He doesn’t want to be prosecuted. No one is innocent. He knows it. He prays for guidance. He is in need of help. Who doesn’t? Indeed, who doesn’t?
At the same time, he knows he can always trust the LORD’s unfailing love. You know you are almost there when you begin to ask the LORD to help you stay away from wrongdoing. It is a prayer the LORD always answers.
The saint does well to remember that they could be the subject of prayer somewhere, but in the negative. They could be the subject of a complaint by someone somewhere because they have caused pain and suffering. How we all need forgiveness!
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