Psalm 143

“Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications!  In Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your righteousness.  Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous.”  Psalm 143:1-2 (NKJV)

Today’s psalm presents a great human dilemma.  How can sinful people plea to a holy God and petition Him to judge the sin of another person?  Regardless of the level of persecution, they are under, the person petitioning God also sins and deserves punishment.  After all, we have all “sinned and fallen short of God’s glory,” and He will “by no means, clear the guilty.”  (Romans 3:23; Number 14:18)  So, where does David get the confidence to plea to the Lord and the faith to know that He will judge David’s oppressors while overlooking David’s sin?  David’s faith comes from God’s Word, the Bible!

“I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands.  I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah” Psalm 143:5-6 (NKJV)

You see, when we read the Bible, our faith grows.  

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

And the reason faith grows (when we read the Bible) is because, as we experience God’s faithfulness to His Word in ages past (God, whose character never changes – Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17), we gain confidence to trust Him with our futures, ages yet to come.  And we see this process articulated in David’s psalm today.

“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good.  Lead  me in the land of uprightness.” Psalm 143:10 (NKJV)

David sought God’s Word (Psalm 1:1-2), so he understood that God extends grace and mercy to sinful people who humbly seek Him. David expected blessing, not based on his righteousness but on God’s righteousness and His ability to keep His Word!

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.”  Deuteronomy 30:15-16 (NKJV)

“Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake!  For your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.  In Your mercy cut off my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul; for I am Your servant.” Psalm 143:11-12 (NKJV)