Psalm 143:1-6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 143:4

Therefore is my spirit - I am deeply depressed in spirit, and greatly afflicted in body. My heart within me is desolate - It has no companion of its sorrows, no sympathetic friend. I am utterly destitute of comfort. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 143:5

I remember the days of old - Thou hast often helped me, often delivered me. I will therefore trust in thee, for thy mercy is not clean gone from me. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 143:6

I stretch forth my hands - This is a natural action. All in distress, or under the influence of eager desire, naturally extend their hands and arms, as if to catch at help and obtain succor. As a thirsty land - Parched and burned by the sun, longs for rain, so does my thirsty soul for the living God. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 143:1

Verse 1 1.Hear my prayer, O Jehovah ! It is evident that the oppression of his enemies must have been extreme, when David laments his case in such earnest and pathetic terms. The introductory words show that the grief he felt was great. His reason for speaking of the justice and faithfulness of God in connection we have shown elsewhere. Under the term justice, or righteousness, we are not to suppose that he speaks of merit, or hire, as some ignorantly imagine, but of that goodness of God which... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 143:2

Verse 2 2.And enter not into judgment, (249) etc. I have hinted already why he proceeds to pray for pardon. When overtaken by adversity, we are ever to conclude that it is a rod of correction sent by God to stir us up to pray. Although he is far from taking pleasure in our trials, it is certain that our sins are the cause of his dealing towards us with this severity. While those to whom David was opposed were wicked men, and he was perfectly conscious of the rectitude of his cause as regarded... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 143:3

Verse 3 3.For the enemy hath persecuted my soul. Having acknowledged that he only suffered the just punishment of his sins, David comes now to speak of his enemies; for to have begun by speaking of them would have been a preposterous order. Their cruelty was shown in their not resting satisfied but with the destruction of one who was a saint of God; he declares that he must even now perish unless God should help him speedily. The comparison is not merely to a dead man, but a putrid corpse; for... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 143:4

Verse 4 4.And my spirit, etc. Hitherto he has spoken of the troubles that were without, now he acknowledges the feebleness of his spirits, from which it is evident that his strength, vas not like that of the rock, imperturbable or without feeling, but that, while overwhelmed with grief as to the feeling of the flesh, he owed his support entirely to faith and the grace of the Spirit,. We are taught by his example not to throw up the conflict in despair, however much we may be weakened, and even... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 143:6

Verse 6 6.I have stretched forth my hands to thee. Here appears the good effect of meditation, that it stirred David up to pray; for if we reflect seriously upon the acting’s of God towards his people, and towards ourselves in our own experience, this will necessarily lead out our minds to seek after him, under the alluring influence of his goodness. Prayer, indeed, springs from faith; but as practical proofs of the favor and mercy confirm this faith, they are means evidently fitted for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 143:1

Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications (comp. Psalms 28:2 ; Psalms 39:12 ; Psalms 54:2 ; Psalms 55:1 , etc.). In thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness . In thy faithfulness to thy promises, since thou hast promised to hear prayer, and in thy mere righteousness, since it is right and just that thou shouldest do so, hearken unto me. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 143:1

Man's hope in prayer lies in what God is. Righteousness is, from one point of view, that side of Divine justice which is turned towards good men; hence it comes to mean "beneficence." There is some good reason for associating this psalm with the experiences of David in the time of Absalom's rebellion. Delitzsch says, "The psalms of this time of persecution are distinguished from those of the persecution by Saul, by the deep melancholy into which the mourning of the dethroned king was... read more

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