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A Psalm of David.
O LORD, hear my prayer; give ear to my supplication! Answer me in Your faithfulness, in Your righteousness!
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Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous.
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For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me dwell in darkness, like those long dead.
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Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart is appalled within me.
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I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands.
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I stretch out my hands to You; my soul thirsts for You like a parched land. Selah
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Answer me quickly, O LORD; my spirit fails! Hide not Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
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Let me hear of Your steadfast love in the morning, for in You I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.
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Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD; I take refuge in You!
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Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God! Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground!
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For Your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life! In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
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And in Your steadfast love cut off my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul, for I am Your servant!
🕊️🙏📖 Summary of Psalm 143 – “A Weary Soul’s Cry to the Faithful God”
Psalm 143 is one of the seven penitential psalms (along with Psalms 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, and 130).
In this psalm, David prays from the depths of his soul — pursued by enemies, burdened by guilt, and longing for the Lord’s guidance.
This is a prayer of confession, longing, and full surrender to God’s steadfast love.
📌 1. A Cry to Hear and Forgive (verses 1–2)
➡️ “Hear my prayer, O LORD…”
➡️ “Do not bring Your servant into judgment…”
➡️ “For in Your sight no one living is righteous.”
🎯 David knows: it is not his own goodness that is the basis of prayer, but God’s steadfast love.
📌 2. A Broken Soul Pursued by Enemies (verses 3–4)
➡️ “The enemy has pursued me and trampled my life…”
➡️ “My soul is crushed within me, my heart is appalled within me.”
🎯 This is outward and inward suffering — the pressure of life and the breaking of the soul.
📌 3. Remembering God’s Goodness in Days Past (verses 5–6)
➡️ “I remember the days of old…”
➡️ “My soul thirsts for You like a dry and weary land.”
🎯 When the present is dark, remember the Lord’s faithfulness in the past.
📌 4. A Plea to Hear and Answer Quickly (verses 7–8)
➡️ “Answer me quickly, O LORD…”
➡️ “Hide not Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit.”
➡️ “Let me hear of Your steadfast love in the morning.”
🎯 This prayer is full of honest despair — yet also of hope.
📌 5. A Request for Spiritual Guidance (verses 9–10)
➡️ “Teach me to do Your will…”
➡️ “Lead me on level ground.”
➡️ “Let Your good Spirit lead me.”
🎯 Not only to be delivered, but also to be shaped and led.
📌 6. Surrender and Confidence in Salvation (verses 11–12)
➡️ “For Your name’s sake, preserve my life…”
➡️ “In Your steadfast love cut off my enemies.”
🎯 The end of all these petitions is full surrender to God’s love and sovereignty.
📖 Main Teaching
- No one is righteous before God — all live only by grace
- When pursued by pressure and guilt, run to the Lord in prayer and surrender
- Admitting weakness and thirsting for the Spirit’s guidance is an important part of restoration
- Remember God’s goodness in the past to strengthen present faith
- The Lord is the source of life, the guide of the way, and the final hope
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
📖 Romans 3:23–24
“For all have sinned… and are justified freely by His grace…”
➡️ In line with Psalm 143:2 — “no one living is righteous before You.”
📖 Matthew 5:6
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…”
➡️ David says: “My soul thirsts for You.”
📖 John 14:26
“The Holy Spirit will teach you all things…”
➡️ David’s prayer: “Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
📖 2 Corinthians 4:8–9
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed… persecuted, but not forsaken.”
➡️ In harmony with David’s inward distress, yet without surrendering to despair.
🕊️ “Do not bring Your servant into judgment…” – Psalm 143:2
🕊️ “My soul thirsts for You like a dry and weary land.” – Psalm 143:6
🕊️ “Teach me to do Your will…” – Psalm 143:10
🕊️ “Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” – Psalm 143:10
