Psalm 143:1-12 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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 143:7-12

David here tells us what he said when he stretched forth his hands unto God; he begins not only as one in earnest, but as one in haste: ?Hear me speedily, and defer no longer, for my spirit faileth. I am just ready to faint; reach the cordial?quickly, quickly, or I am gone.? It was not a haste of unbelief, but of vehement desire and holy love. Make haste, O God! to help me. Three things David here prays for:? I. The manifestations of God's favour towards him, that God would be well pleased... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 143:1

Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications ,.... With these requests David begins the psalm; for it was to no purpose to pray and were heard; and for which he always appears to be concerned, as every good man will, and not to be heard only, but to be answered, as follows; in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness ; he does not plead his own faith, with which he believed in God, as rama interprets it; though the prayer of faith is very effectual; but the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 143:2

And enter not into judgment with thy servant ,.... The house of judgment, as the Targum, or court of judicature; God is a Judge, and there is and will be a judgment, universal, righteous, and eternal; and there is a day fixed for it, and a judgment seat before which all must stand, and a law according to which all must be judged; but the psalmist knew he was but a man, and could not contend with God; and a sinful creature, and could not answer him for one of a thousand faults committed by... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 143:4

Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me ,.... Covered over with grief, borne down with sorrow, ready to sink and fail; See Gill on Psalm 142:3 ; my heart within me is desolate ; destitute of the spirit and presence of God, and with respect to the exercise of grace, and filled with fears and misgivings; or "astonished" F21 ישתומם "attonitum est", Vatablus; "stupuit", Tigurine version; "stupet", Cocceius, Michaelis; "obstupuit", Gejerus. , at the providence he was under,... 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

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 143:7

Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth ,.... Ready to sink, swoon, and faint away, through the weight of the affliction on him, by reason of the persecution of his enemy, and for want of the divine Presence; hence the Targum renders it, "my spirit desireth thee;' see Song of Solomon 5:6 ; and therefore entreats that God would hear and answer him quickly; or, "make haste to answer" him, and not delay, lest he should be quite gone. Wherefore it follows, hide not thy face from me ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 143:8

Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning ,.... Not only externally in the ministry of the word; but internally by the Spirit, so as to feel and perceive, and have some sensible experience of it; which he desired he might have in the morning, early, speedily, by the next morning; it being now night perhaps when he was in this distress, and put up this prayer; see 2 Samuel 18:1 ; Jarchi interprets it, when the redemption arises or springs out; meaning the deliverance of the Jews... read more

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 143:7-12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 143:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 143:2

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 143:4

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 143:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 143:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 143:8

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