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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 143:1-6

Here, I. David humbly begs to be heard (Ps. 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 143:5

I remember the days of old ,.... Former times he had read and heard of, in which the Lord appeared for his people that trusted in him; or the former part of his own life, his younger days, when the Lord delivered him from the lion and bear, and from the uncircumcised Philistine, whom he slew; and made him victorious in battles, and preserved him from the rage and malice of Saul. If this was written on account of Absalom, those times of deliverance he called to mind, in order to encourage his... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 143:1-12

The soul's appeal to God. The groundwork of the psalm is that of great affliction. The psalmist is in very sore trouble; the strongest expressions are used to convey the idea of complete outward disaster and inward dejection ( Psalms 143:3 , Psalms 143:4 ). There is only one respect in which things could be worse than they are—death itself, and the going down into the dark land of forgetfulness ( Psalms 143:7 ). But, as in the preceding psalm, his dire extremity is the very occasion... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 143:1-12

The cry of the overwhelmed spirit. I. ITS CHARACTERISTICS . 1. How earnest it is! The psalmist was not in any light, indifferent, or formal spirit when he uttered this prayer. Its intensity is evident all the way through. 2. And believing . "In thy faithfulness answer me" ( Psalms 143:1 ). He believed the promises of God, and claims their fulfillment, expects that what God has promised he will make good. Such expectation is all too rare; and its rarity accounts... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 143:1-12

A complaint and a prayer. This the last of the penitential psalms. The authorship and occasion of it uncertain. Pervaded by a deep tone of sorrow and anguish and a deep sense of sin. Roughly divided, the first part ( Psalms 143:1-6 ) contains the complaint ; and the second ( Psalms 143:7-12 ), the prayer founded on that complaint. I. THE COMPLAINT . 1. His enemies overwhelmed with a sense of desolation . ( Psalms 143:3 , Psalms 143:4 .) "His life was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 143:5

I remember the days of old . Still, in the midst of all my troubles, I do not despair—"I remember the days of old"—the great things which God has done for me in the past (comp. Psalms 77:5 , Psalms 77:10 , Psalms 77:11 ). I meditate on all thy works ; or, "on all thy doings ." I muse on the work of thy hands (comp. Psalms 77:12 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 143:5-6

God our first Hope and our Last. The hunger and thirst after righteousness is ultimately a thirst for God. "Observe how he binds himself to God alone, cuts off every other hope from his soul, and, in short, makes his very need a chariot wherewith to mount up to God." "I remember the days of old;" "I spread forth my hands unto thee." I. GOD ALWAYS HAS BEEN OUR HOPE . A good man is here speaking in the name of good men. They can never look back over life, and estimate its... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 143:5

I remember the days of old - Former times.(1) as contrasted with my present condition.(2) as times when I called upon thee, and thou didst interpose.(3) as encouraging me now to come to thee, and spread out my case before thee. See Psalms 77:5-11, note; Psalms 42:4, note.I meditate on all thy works ... - On what thou hast done; on thy gracious interpositions in the time of trial; on the manifestations of thy power in my behalf, and in behalf of thy people. I call all this to mind, remembering... read more

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