Psalm 143 Part 3

David’s meditation (deep thought) of ‘the days of old’ in v’s5-6 was not only a nostalgic longing for the past. It was a remembrance of God’s great works. Thankfully, the ache in David’s soul did not drive him away from God. It drove him to God in prayer, praise, and deep longing. His persecuted soul sought after God with the intensity of thirst. (6b) This thirst reminds me of Him whose soul thirsted after our salvation, even when he felt the extremity of bodily dehydration on the cross.

Many people have felt as David did, feeling an urgency to hear God’s speedy answer.(V7.) When we live with the belief that God is for us, we are confident in the face of any adversary. (See Rom.8:31) David needed to hear something of God’s great lovingkindness. He needed to hear this early, (v8) so he would have assurance and know how to walk during the day. Lovingkindness is one of the sweetest words in our language. Kindness has much in it that is most precious, but lovingkindness is doubly dear; it is the epitome of kindness. The phrase ‘in the morning’ should remind us that the night is not endless. 

‘Cause me to know the way in which I should walk’ is a wonderful prayer for all to pray. Knowing the works of God in Christ and in Nature and obeying Him is the essence of Christianity. Notice the last words of Solomon in Eccl.12:13. Knowledge without obedience is lame. Obedience without knowledge is blind, and we can never hope for acceptance if we offer the blind and lame to God.

In the final stanza David appealed to God on the basis of His name, His righteousness, and His lovingkindness and also on the basis of his relationship with God as His servant. David understood that the servant has obligations to the Master; yet, the Master also has obligations to the servant.

David had asked God to deal with his enemies; but before that, he asked God to deal with him. He knew that his own uninspired or undirected walk with God was a greater danger than any enemy.