Psalm 143:3 NIV

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 143:3

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul ,.... Which is to be connected with Psalm 143:1 ; and is a reason why he desires his prayer might be answered, seeing his enemy, either Saul, or Absalom his own son, persecuted him, or pursued him in order to take away his soul, or life; or Satan, the enemy and avenger, who goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; or persecuting men, who are his emissaries and instruments, whom he instigates to persecute the Lord's people, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 143:3

He hath made me to dwell in darkness - Literally, in dark places. This may be understood of David's taking refuge in caves and dens of the earth, to escape from his persecuting son; yea, even to take refuge in the tombs, or repositories of the dead. 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 143:1-12

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 143:3

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul . "The enemy" may be Saul, but is more probably an abstract expression—for "my enemies" generally. He hath smitten my life down to the ground; or, "crushed my life to the ground"—brought me, i . e ; very low (comp. Psalms 42:6 ). He hath made me to dwell in darkness (comp. Psalms 88:6 ). As those that have been long dead. I have dwelt in a darkness like that of Sheol ; i . e . in gloom and unhappiness (comp. Lamentations 3:6 ). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 143:3

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul - Has persecuted me; has sought my life.He hath smitten my life down to the ground - He has, as it were, trampled me down to the earth. The word rendered “smitten” means to break in pieces, to beat small, to crush. See Psalms 72:4; Psalms 89:10; Job 6:9. His very life seemed to be crushed out as one that is trodden down to the ground.He hath made me to dwell in darkness - He has made my life like that of one who dwells in darkness; he has made it a life of... read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 143:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 143:3

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 143:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 143:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 143:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 143:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 143:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 143:3

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