Psalms 143 Study Notes: A Plea for Mercy and Guidance
Crushed by an enemy, David asks God not to judge him, since no living person is righteous before Him. He remembers God's past works, longs for Him, and asks to be taught God's will and led by His Spirit, appealing to God's name and loyal love.
General
In 143:11-12, what ground does David give when he asks God to revive him and deal with his enemies?
Answer: The sake of God's name, His righteousness, and His loving devotion
At the close of the psalm David asks God to revive him and rescue him from trouble, and to cut off the enemies who afflict him (143:11-12). His reasons rest on God, not on any merit of his own: God's name, God's righteousness, God's loving devotion, and David's standing as God's servant, one who belongs to Him. God's name stands for His character and reputation. This matches the psalm's opening, where David refused to rest on his own righteousness (143:2). David makes the same appeal for forgiveness (Psalm 25:11), the LORD leads His sheep for His name's sake (Psalm 23:3), and God tells Israel He acts for His holy name, not for their sake (Ezekiel 36:22). David leaves the fate of his enemies in God's hands rather than taking revenge himself.
- Psalm 143:11-12 (BSB)“For the sake of Your name, O LORD, revive me. In Your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble. And in Your loving devotion, cut off my enemies. Destroy all who afflict me, for I am Your servant.”David asks God to revive him and rescue him for the sake of His name, righteousness, and loving devotion, since he is God's servant.
- Psalm 25:11 (BSB)“For the sake of Your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, for it is great.”David asks for forgiveness for the sake of God's name, the same ground of appeal.
- Psalm 23:3 (BSB)“He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.”The LORD guides His sheep in right paths for the sake of His name.
- Ezekiel 36:22 (BSB)“Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: It is not for your sake that I will act, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you went.”God says He acts not for Israel's sake but for His holy name.
Theological
On what grounds does David rest his closing petitions in 143:11-12?
Answer: The sake of God's name, His righteousness, and His loving devotion
David asks to be revived and rescued from trouble and for his afflicters to be cut off, pleading God's name, God's righteousness, God's loving devotion, and his own status as God's servant (143:11-12). Every ground lies in God's character and covenant relation, consistent with 143:2, where David disclaimed any righteousness of his own. The appeal to God's name recurs in Psalm 25:11 and Psalm 23:3, and Ezekiel 36:22 states that God acts for His holy name rather than for His people's merit. The request regarding enemies is committed to God, not taken into David's own hands.
- Psalm 143:11-12 (BSB)“For the sake of Your name, O LORD, revive me. In Your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble. And in Your loving devotion, cut off my enemies. Destroy all who afflict me, for I am Your servant.”David asks God to revive him and rescue him for the sake of His name, righteousness, and loving devotion, since he is God's servant.
- Psalm 25:11 (BSB)“For the sake of Your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, for it is great.”David asks for forgiveness for the sake of God's name, the same ground of appeal.
- Psalm 23:3 (BSB)“He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.”The LORD guides His sheep in right paths for the sake of His name.
- Ezekiel 36:22 (BSB)“Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: It is not for your sake that I will act, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you went.”God says He acts not for Israel's sake but for His holy name.
General
True or False: In 143:8 David asks that, when morning comes, he may hear of God's loving devotion, and he gives his trust in God as the reason.
Answer: True
This is true. David begs God to answer quickly and not hide His face, or he will become like those who sink down to the Pit, the grave (143:7). Then he asks to hear of God's loving devotion, His loyal, covenant-keeping love, when morning comes, because he has put his trust in Him (143:8). Lamentations says the LORD's mercies are fresh each morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), Moses prays for God to satisfy His people each morning with His loving devotion (Psalm 90:14), and David elsewhere lays his requests before God in the morning and waits (Psalm 5:3).
- Psalm 143:7-8 (BSB)“Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide Your face from me, or I will be like those who descend to the Pit. Let me hear Your loving devotion in the morning, for I have put my trust in You. Teach me the way I should walk, for to You I lift up my soul.”David asks for a quick answer and to hear of God's loving devotion in the morning, because he trusts in Him.
- Lamentations 3:22-23 (BSB)“Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!”The LORD's mercies are new every morning, the same hope of morning mercy David voices.
- Psalm 90:14 (BSB)“Satisfy us in the morning with Your loving devotion, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”Moses asks God to satisfy His people in the morning with His loving devotion.
- Psalm 5:3 (BSB)“In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation.”David elsewhere lays his requests before God in the morning and waits expectantly.
Theological
True or False: David's plea in 143:8 to hear of God's loving devotion when morning comes rests on his trust in God.
Answer: True
This is true. Fearing he will go down to the Pit if God hides His face (143:7), David asks to hear of God's loving devotion when morning comes, grounding the plea in his trust (143:8). The same expectation appears in Lamentations 3:22-23, Moses' prayer in Psalm 90:14, and David's morning petition in Psalm 5:3.
- Psalm 143:7-8 (BSB)“Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails. Do not hide Your face from me, or I will be like those who descend to the Pit. Let me hear Your loving devotion in the morning, for I have put my trust in You. Teach me the way I should walk, for to You I lift up my soul.”David asks for a quick answer and to hear of God's loving devotion in the morning, because he trusts in Him.
- Lamentations 3:22-23 (BSB)“Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!”The LORD's mercies are new every morning, the same hope of morning mercy David voices.
- Psalm 90:14 (BSB)“Satisfy us in the morning with Your loving devotion, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”Moses asks God to satisfy His people in the morning with His loving devotion.
- Psalm 5:3 (BSB)“In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation.”David elsewhere lays his requests before God in the morning and waits expectantly.
General
Why does David ask God in 143:2 not to bring His servant into judgment?
Answer: Because no living person is righteous in God's sight
David opens by appealing to God's faithfulness and righteousness (143:1), and then asks God not to put him on trial, since no living person stands righteous before Him (143:2). David does not claim to be innocent. He knows that if God judged him by his own record, he would fall like everyone else. Paul uses the same thought to teach justification, meaning God's act of declaring a sinner right with Himself. Keeping the law's requirements will never make anyone right in God's eyes (Romans 3:20); a person is made right with God through trusting in Jesus Christ, not by doing what the law demands (Galatians 2:16). All have sinned, yet believers are declared righteous as a free gift of God's grace, on the basis of the redemption Christ accomplished (Romans 3:23-24). Psalm 130 says the same: if God kept track of sins, no one could stand; yet God forgives (Psalm 130:3-4).
- Psalm 143:1-2 (BSB)“A Psalm of David. O LORD, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness, give ear to my plea; in Your righteousness, answer me. Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.”David appeals to God's faithfulness and righteousness and asks not to be brought into judgment, since no living person is righteous before Him.
- Romans 3:20 (BSB)“Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.”Paul echoes this verse's wording to show that no one will be justified in God's sight by works of the law.
- Galatians 2:16 (BSB)“know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”Paul again teaches that no one is justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.
- Psalm 130:3-4 (BSB)“If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.”Another psalmist says no one could stand if God kept a record of sins, but with Him there is forgiveness.
- Romans 3:23-24 (BSB)“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”All have sinned, and those who are justified are justified freely by God's grace through the redemption in Christ.
Theological
On what ground does David ask God not to enter into judgment with him in 143:2?
Answer: Because no living person is righteous in God's sight
David appeals to God's faithfulness and righteousness (143:1) and asks God not to enter into judgment with His servant, because no one living is righteous before Him (143:2). He pleads grace, not merit. Paul echoes the verse in Romans 3:20 to establish that no one is declared righteous through doing what the law requires, and in Galatians 2:16 to set justification through faith in Christ against reliance on the law. The verdict of universal guilt (Romans 3:23) is answered by free justification by grace through Christ's redemption (Romans 3:24). Psalm 130:3-4 makes the same confession: were iniquities counted, none could stand, yet God forgives.
- Psalm 143:1-2 (BSB)“A Psalm of David. O LORD, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness, give ear to my plea; in Your righteousness, answer me. Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.”David appeals to God's faithfulness and righteousness and asks not to be brought into judgment, since no living person is righteous before Him.
- Romans 3:20 (BSB)“Therefore no one will be justified in His sight by works of the law. For the law merely brings awareness of sin.”Paul echoes this verse's wording to show that no one will be justified in God's sight by works of the law.
- Galatians 2:16 (BSB)“know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.”Paul again teaches that no one is justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.
- Psalm 130:3-4 (BSB)“If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.”Another psalmist says no one could stand if God kept a record of sins, but with Him there is forgiveness.
- Romans 3:23-24 (BSB)“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”All have sinned, and those who are justified are justified freely by God's grace through the redemption in Christ.
General
In 143:3-6, while his enemy has crushed him and his spirit is faint, what does David do?
Answer: He recalls God's past deeds and reaches out to Him like dry ground longing for water
David describes an enemy who has hunted him down, crushed him, and left him sitting in darkness like people long dead (143:3), and his spirit is fainting inside him (143:4). Instead of giving up, he turns his mind to the past: he remembers long-ago days and thinks about everything God has done (143:5). Then he stretches out his hands to God, longing for Him like parched land longs for water (143:6). Remembering God's faithful deeds strengthens faith in the present. Another psalmist does the same in a time of distress (Psalm 77:11-12), and David elsewhere describes thirsting for God in a dry land (Psalm 63:1). Lamentations uses a similar picture of darkness like the dead (Lamentations 3:6).
- Psalm 143:3-6 (BSB)“For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead. My spirit grows faint within me; my heart is dismayed inside me. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I consider the work of Your hands. I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land. Selah”Crushed by his enemy and faint in spirit, David remembers God's past works and reaches out to Him in thirst.
- Psalm 77:11-12 (BSB)“I will remember the works of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old. I will reflect on all You have done and ponder Your mighty deeds.”Another psalmist in distress resolves to remember and reflect on God's wonders of old.
- Psalm 63:1 (BSB)“A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You. My body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water.”David, in the wilderness, says his soul thirsts for God in a dry and weary land.
- Lamentations 3:6 (BSB)“He has made me dwell in darkness like those dead for ages.”Lamentations uses the same picture of being made to live in darkness like the long dead.
Theological
What is David's response in 143:3-6 to the enemy's oppression and his own faintness?
Answer: He recalls God's past deeds and reaches out to Him like dry ground longing for water
Pursued and crushed, left in darkness like the long dead (143:3), and inwardly dismayed (143:4), David turns to remembrance: he recalls former days and meditates on God's works (143:5). Memory of God's past acts fuels present dependence as he spreads out his hands and thirsts for God like dry, thirsty ground (143:6). The same movement from distress to remembrance appears in Psalm 77:11-12; the thirst image recalls Psalm 63:1, and the darkness image is shared with Lamentations 3:6.
- Psalm 143:3-6 (BSB)“For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead. My spirit grows faint within me; my heart is dismayed inside me. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I consider the work of Your hands. I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land. Selah”Crushed by his enemy and faint in spirit, David remembers God's past works and reaches out to Him in thirst.
- Psalm 77:11-12 (BSB)“I will remember the works of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old. I will reflect on all You have done and ponder Your mighty deeds.”Another psalmist in distress resolves to remember and reflect on God's wonders of old.
- Psalm 63:1 (BSB)“A Psalm of David, when he was in the Wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God. Earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You. My body yearns for You in a dry and weary land without water.”David, in the wilderness, says his soul thirsts for God in a dry and weary land.
- Lamentations 3:6 (BSB)“He has made me dwell in darkness like those dead for ages.”Lamentations uses the same picture of being made to live in darkness like the long dead.
General
What does David ask God to do for him in 143:10?
Answer: Teach him to do God's will and lead him by His good Spirit
David does not only ask for escape from enemies. He asks God to teach him the way he should walk (143:8), flees to Him for refuge from his enemies (143:9), and asks God to teach him to do God's will, because the LORD is his God (143:10). He also asks God's good Spirit to lead him on level ground, a smooth and safe path. David knows he needs God not only to show him what is right but to enable him to do it. Elsewhere he prays for God to show him His ways and teach him His paths (Psalm 25:4-5). God later promises to put His Spirit within His people and cause them to walk in His ways (Ezekiel 36:27), and Paul says God works in believers both the desire and the doing that serve His good purpose (Philippians 2:13). Obedience is the fruit of God's grace at work.
- Psalm 143:10 (BSB)“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”David asks God to teach him to do His will and to lead him by His good Spirit.
- Psalm 25:4-5 (BSB)“Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; all day long I wait for You.”David asks God to show him His ways and teach him His paths, the same request for divine instruction.
- Ezekiel 36:27 (BSB)“And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.”God promises to put His Spirit within His people and cause them to walk in His statutes.
- Philippians 2:13 (BSB)“For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.”Paul says it is God who works in believers both to will and to act for His good purpose.
Theological
What is the content of David's petition in 143:10?
Answer: Teach him to do God's will and lead him by His good Spirit
Alongside deliverance, David seeks sanctification: he asks God to teach him to do His will, on the ground that the LORD is his God, and to let His good Spirit lead him on level ground (143:10; compare 143:8-9, where he flees to God for refuge). He depends on God both for direction and for the ability to obey. Psalm 25:4-5 voices the same prayer for instruction; Ezekiel 36:27 promises that God's indwelling Spirit will cause His people to walk in His statutes; Philippians 2:13 attributes both willing and working to God. Obedience is the fruit of grace, not its ground.
- Psalm 143:10 (BSB)“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”David asks God to teach him to do His will and to lead him by His good Spirit.
- Psalm 25:4-5 (BSB)“Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; all day long I wait for You.”David asks God to show him His ways and teach him His paths, the same request for divine instruction.
- Ezekiel 36:27 (BSB)“And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.”God promises to put His Spirit within His people and cause them to walk in His statutes.
- Philippians 2:13 (BSB)“For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.”Paul says it is God who works in believers both to will and to act for His good purpose.