THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION

Psalms: God's Nurture Of The Inner Man In The Life Of Faith

CXLIII: Trusting God When Overwhelmed By Godless Harassment

(Psalm 143:1-12)

I. Introduction

A. Believers can face godless harassment that is so acute, they feel emotionally and mentally overwhelmed by it.

B. David faced such a trial and found God's help with it in Psalm 143:1-12. We thus view the psalm for our insight and edification (as follows):

II. Trusting God When Overwhelmed By Godless Harassment, Psalm 143:1-12.

A. The introductory notes comprise part of the first verse in the Hebrew text (Kittel, Biblia Hebraica, p. 1098), so we stay with the numbering system of the English Bible for clarity with this lesson.

B. We then translate Psalm 143:1-12 as follows:

1. "A psalm of David. O Jahweh, hearken to my prayer; give ear to my cry for mercy; in Your faithfulness and in Your righteousness, respond to me," Psalm 143:1.

2. "Do not bring Your servant into judgment, because there is no one physically alive who is righteous before Your face," Psalm 143:2.

3. "For my enemy pursues my life principle, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead," Psalm 143:3.

4. "My spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed," Psalm 143:4.

5. "I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all of Your works and consider what Your hands have done," Psalm 143:5.

6. "I spread out my hands unto You; my life principle (thirsts) for You as does a parched land. Selah," v. 6.

7. "Answer me quickly, O Jahweh; my spirit faints with longing. Do not hide Your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit (the grave)," Psalm 143:7.

8. "Let the morning bring me word of Your loyal love because in You have I put my trust. Make known to me the way I should go, because unto You I lift up my life principle," Psalm 143:8.

9. "Snatch me away from my enemies, O Jahweh, because I hide myself in You," Psalm 143:9.

10. "Teach me to do Your will because You (emph. pron.) are my Elohim; may Your wholesome Spirit herd me on level ground (that is clear and attainable to traverse)," Psalm 143:10.

11. "For the sake of Your Name (reputation), O Jahweh, revive me; in Your righteousness bring out my life principle from distress," Psalm 143:11.

12. "In Your loyal love, silence my enemies and destroy all who harass my life principle, for I myself (emph. pron.) am Your servant," Psalm 143:12.

C. We note significant observations regarding this psalm (as follows):

1. David described his condition of great distress in having been harassed by his foes to where he suffered emotional and mental weakness (as follows): (a) he asked God to respond to him in His faithfulness and mercy, a strong plea, v. 1. (b) David asked God not to judge him, for he realized he was a sinner just like anybody else, and in the current crisis, he could not afford not to be accepted by the Lord, v. 2. (c) David spoke of being crushed in spirit to the point of feeling dead, a sign of severe depression, v. 3, 6-7. (d) As his spirit was faint and dismayed, David dwelt on God's works of long ago, an experience typical of those in great suffering, v. 4-5. (e) He noted that he was being harassed by his enemies, explaining the destitute nature of his mental state, v. 12.

2. In his great need, David asked God for clear and obvious guidance, that God would make His leading clear and easy for David to discern and follow because he was in a weakened and mentally indecisive state, v. 10. He clung to God's loyal love and faithfulness (v. 1) and to the realization that he was God's servant in a culture where the master was responsible to protect his servant, v. 12b.

Lesson: In facing emotionally and mentally overwhelming harassment by foes that threatened him with very intense, destructive depression, David held to God's righteousness and grace to fulfill His plans for David's life as his sure hope out of his difficult crisis. David asked God for clear guidance and a workable path in his weakness.

Application: If we face emotionally and mentally overwhelming harassment from our foes, may we hope in an Almighty God and His purpose for our life and ask Him for clear guidance and an achievable path in our trial.