Psalm 143:6

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 143:6

I stretch forth my hands unto thee ,.... In prayer, as the Targum adds; for this is a prayer gesture, 1 Kings 8:38 ; both hands were stretched forth, earnestly imploring help, and ready to receive and embrace every blessing bestowed with thankfulness; my soul thirsteth after thee as a thirsty land . As a dry land, which wants water, gapes, and as it were thirsts for rain, which is very refreshing to it; so his soul thirsted after God, after his word and ordinances, after communion... 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 143:6

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 143:1-12

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 143:5-6

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 143:6

I stretch forth my hands unto thee . These recollections draw me to thee, O God, and make me stretch forth my hands in prayer to thee ( Psalms 141:2 ), and entreat thee for succor. My soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. As a parched and withered land. seems to look up to heaven and long for rain, so does my soul long for thee, O Lord, "and thy refreshing grace" (comp. Psalms 42:1 ). The "pause-mark," "selah," at the end of the verse, at once gives time for secret prayer, and... read more

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