Psalm 143 - Find Peace

Psalm 143:1-12 NIV

Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy;

 in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. 

Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.

The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground;

 he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead. 

So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.

I remember the days of long ago;

 I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. 

I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land.

Answer me quickly, Lord; my spirit fails. 

Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. 

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. 

Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you. 

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God;

 may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. 

For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life;

 in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. 

In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

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Psalm 143 is another psalm from David. He could be on the run from Saul in this psalm or he could be reflecting on another situation where he feels threatened by enemies.

The beauty of Psalm 143 is the personal relationship we see David has with God. First he acknowledges God as faithful and righteous. He seeks mercy and deliverance from enemies. He humbles himself acknowledging his sin, for no one is righteous before God.

David cries out in agony of spirit. He feels crushed, in darkness, and faint. His heart is dismayed. What does he do? He turns to God, acknowledging his need for the Lord. He remembers God's goodness. Perhaps he thinks of easier days when he was a shepherd boy tending to his father's flocks. Many nights he sat with his harp composing songs of praise for God. With the stars above, or at sunset, he was inspired by the works of God's hands. These memories of better days lift David in his spirit. He longs for God to refresh him as God has done so in the past.

The urgency of his prayer leads me to think that he's at his wits end. He looks for God to lead him. He doesn't know what to do, how to deal with his enemy. So he prays before he rests for the night, hoping to have clarity on the matter by morning. He places his life in God's hands. What safer place is there to be?

David ends his prayer with specific requests.

Rescue me
Teach me
Lead me
Preserve my life
Bring me out of trouble
Silence my enemies
Destroy my foes

David's prayer is a good model for personal prayer. God is not distant, but near, as if speaking to a friend. Acknowledge who God is. God is righteous and faithful, merciful and mighty to save. Admit your weaknesses and utter need for God. Describe your needs and how troubles are affecting you. Open your heart before the Lord. Make your specific requests and trust God to act. Entrust Him with your life.

I remember one time when I was having difficulty making a decision. I tossed and turned in a hotel room bed, unable to sleep. I was uncertain and anxious. I didn't know what I should do. I finally looked in the night stand and found a Gideon's Bible. I opening the bible randomly and looked at the first thing on the page that caught my eye. It was Psalm 143! As I read of David's turmoil, it helped me to express my own. As he spoke of enemies, I thought of my confusion and uncertainty as my enemies. And when my eyes saw the following verse a peace filled my heart.

Psalm 143:8 NIV

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

I put the Bible back in the night stand, turned out the light, and went to sleep. The issues that kept me awake were replaced with heavenly peace. I began the next day with hope and, by week's end, everything was sorted out beautifully.

Whatever troubles your mind and disturbs your peace, call out to God and entrust your life to Him. His unfailing love will sustain you and His grace will work out His good purposes for your life in every situation. Seek God and find peace.