Psalms 143
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
This Psalm sustains a close connection with the foregoing. The chosen people are exhorted to praise God, in view of past favors, and also future victories over enemies, of which they are impliedly assured. (Psa 149:1-9) (Compare Psa 96:1).
Open source ↗Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications,.... With these requests David begins the psalm; for it was to no purpose to pray and were heard; and for which he always appears to be concerned, as every good man will, and not to be heard only, but to be answered, as follows; in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness; he does not plead his own faith, with which he believed in God, as rama interprets it; though the prayer of faith is very effectual; but the faithfulness of God to his promises; he had promised to hear, answer, and deliver such as called on him in a time of trouble; and he is faithful that has promised, nor will he suffer his faithfulness to fail; he cannot deny himself; and on this the psalmist relied for an answer, as well as desired and expected it; not on account of his own righteousness, but either on account of the goodness and grace of God, sometimes designed by righteousness, or because of the righteousness of Christ, or for the sake of Christ, the Lord our righteousness; on whose account God is just and faithful to forgive sin, the blessing the psalmist wanted, as appears from Psa 143:2.
Open source ↗The poet pleads two motives for the answering of his prayer which are to be found in God Himself, viz., God's אמוּנה, truthfulness, with which He verifies the truth of His promises, that is to say, His faithfulness to His promises; and His צדקה, righteousness, not in a recompensative legal sense, but in an evangelical sense, in accordance with His counsel, i.e., the strictness and earnestness with which He maintains the order of salvation established by His holy love, both against the ungratefully disobedient and against those who insolently despise Him. Having entered into this order of salvation, and within the sphere of it serving Jahve as his God and Lord, the poet is the servant of Jahve. And because the conduct of the God of salvation, ruled by this order of salvation, or His "righteousness" according to its fundamental manifestation, consists in His justifying the sinful man who has no righteousness that he can show corresponding to the divine holiness, but penitently confesses this disorganized relationship, and, eager for salvation, longs for it to be set right again - because of all this, the poet prays that He would not also enter into judgment (בּוא בּמשׁפּט as in Job 9:32; Job 22:4; Job 14:3) with him, that He therefore would let mercy instead of justice have its course with him. For, apart from the fact that even the holiness of the good spirits does not coincide with God's absolute holiness, and that this defect must still be very far greater in the case of spirit-corporeal man, who has earthiness as the basis of his origin-yea, according to Psa 51:7, man is conceived in sin, so that he is sinful from the point at which he begins to live onward - his life is indissolubly interwoven with sin, no living man possesses a righteousness that avails before God (…
Open source ↗Here, I. David humbly begs to be heard (Psa 143:1), not as if he questioned it, but he earnestly desired it, and was in care about it, for, having desired it, and was in care about it, for having directed his prayer, he looked up to see how it sped, Hab 2:1. He is a suppliant to his God, and he begs that his requests may be granted: Hear my prayer; give ear to my supplications. He is an appellant against his persecutors, and he begs that his case may be brought to hearing and that God will give judgment upon it, in his faithfulness and righteousness, as the Judge of right and wrong. Or, "Answer my petitions in thy faithfulness, according to the promises thou hast made, which thou wilt be just to." We have no righteousness of our own to plead, and therefore must plead God's righteousness, the word of promise which he has freely given us and caused us to hope in. II. He humbly begs not to be proceeded against in strict justice, Psa 143:2. He seems here, if not to correct, yet to explain, his plea (Psa 143:1), Deliver me in thy righteousness; "I mean," says he, "the righteous promises of the gospel, not the righteous threatenings of the law; if I be answered according to the righteousness of this broken covenant of innocency, I am quite undone;" and therefore, 1. His petition is, "Enter not into judgment with thy servant; do not deal with me in strict justice, as I deserve to be dealt with." In this prayer we must own ourselves to be God's servants, bound to obey him, accountable to him, and solicitous to obtain his favour, and we must approve ourselves to him. We must acknowledge that in many instances we have offended him, and have come short of our duty to him, that he might justly enquire into our offences, and proceed against us for them according to law, and that, if…
Open source ↗Ps 143 In this lament, the psalmist feels overwhelmed by constant harassment from his foes, so he turns to the Lord’s love, righteousness, and faithfulness. He remembers God’s acts in the past and yearns for the renewal of the Lord’s love. He opens himself to God’s wisdom because he knows that instruction will lead to life. 143:1-2 The psalmist prays for God’s love and mercy.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
מִזְמוֹר (mizmôwr, H4210) — properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes דָּוִד (Dâvid, H1732) — David, the youngest son of Jesse שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… תְּפִלָּה (tᵉphillâh, H8605) — intercession, supplication; by implication, a hymn יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָזַן (ʼâzan, H238) — to broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e. (by implication) to listen תַּחֲנוּן (tachănûwn, H8469) — earnest prayer אֱמוּנָה (ʼĕmûwnâh, H530) — literally firmness; figuratively security; morally fidelity עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6030) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond;… צְדָקָה (tsᵉdâqâh, H6666) — rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue)…
Open source ↗בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) מִשְׁפָּט (mishpâṭ, H4941) — properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a… עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… צָדַק (tsâdaq, H6663) — to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense)
Open source ↗אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary רָדַף (râdaph, H7291) — to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by) נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… דָּכָא (dâkâʼ, H1792) — to crumble; transitively, to bruise (literally or figuratively) חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… מַחְשָׁךְ (machshâk, H4285) — darkness; concretely, a dark place עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or… מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
Open source ↗רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… עָטַף (ʻâṭaph, H5848) — to shroud, i.e. clothe (whether transitive or reflex.); hence (from the idea of darkness)… לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… תָּוֶךְ (tâvek, H8432) — a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre שָׁמֵם (shâmêm, H8074) — to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e. devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both…
Open source ↗זָכַר (zâkar, H2142) — properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention;… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… קֶדֶם (qedem, H6924) — the front, of place (absolutely, the fore part, relatively the East) or time (antiquity);… הָגָה (hâgâh, H1897) — to murmur (in pleasure or anger); by implication, to ponder פֹּעַל (pôʻal, H6467) — an act or work (concretely) שִׂיחַ (sîyach, H7878) — to ponder, i.e. (by implication) converse (with oneself, and hence, aloud) or… מַעֲשֶׂה (maʻăseh, H4639) — an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication,… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
Open source ↗פָּרַשׂ (pâras, H6566) — to break apart, disperse, etc. יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… עָיֵף (ʻâyêph, H5889) — languid אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) סֶלָה (çelâh, H5542) — suspension (of music), i.e. pause
Open source ↗עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6030) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond;… מַהֵר (mahêr, H4118) — properly, hurrying; hence (adverbially) in ahurry יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… כָּלָה (kâlâh, H3615) — to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitived (to complete,… סָתַר (çâthar, H5641) — to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… מָשַׁל (mâshal, H4911) — to liken, i.e. (transitively) to use figurative language (an allegory, adage, song or the… יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… בּוֹר (bôwr, H953) — a pit hole (especially one used as a cistern or a prison)
Open source ↗שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… חֵסֵד (chêçêd, H2617) — kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or… בֹּקֶר (bôqer, H1242) — properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning בָּטַח (bâṭach, H982) — figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb זוּ (zûw, H2098) — this or that יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in…
Open source ↗נָצַל (nâtsal, H5337) — to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary כָּסָה (kâçâh, H3680) — properly, to plump, i.e. fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or…
Open source ↗לָמַד (lâmad, H3925) — properly, to goad, i.e. (by implication) to teach (the rod being an Oriental incentive) עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application רָצוֹן (râtsôwn, H7522) — delight (especially as shown) אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… טוֹב (ṭôwb, H2896) — good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the… נָחָה (nâchâh, H5148) — to guide; by implication, to transport (into exile, or as colonists) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) מִישׁוֹר (mîyshôwr, H4334) — a level, i.e. a plain (often used (with the article prefix) as a proper name of certain…
Open source ↗חָיָה (châyâh, H2421) — to live, whether literally or figuratively; causatively, to revive יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… צְדָקָה (tsᵉdâqâh, H6666) — rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue)… יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… צָרָה (tsârâh, H6869) — tightness (i.e. figuratively, trouble); transitively, a female rival:
Open source ↗חֵסֵד (chêçêd, H2617) — kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or… צָמַת (tsâmath, H6789) — to extirpate (literally or figuratively) אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary אָבַד (ʼâbad, H6) — properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy) צָרַר (tsârar, H6887) — to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… עֶבֶד (ʻebed, H5650) — a servant
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
In Your justice, rescue and deliver me; incline Your ear and save me.
In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; save me by Your righteousness.
I say to the LORD, “You are my God.” Hear, O LORD, my cry for help.
O Lord, in keeping with all Your righteous acts, I pray that Your anger and wrath may turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people are a reproach to all around us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
And now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house. Do as You have promised,