Psalm 143:7

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 143:7

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 143:7

Hear me speedily - מהר maher , make haste to answer me. A few hours, and my state may be irretrievable. In a short time my unnatural son may put an end to my life. 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 143:7

Hear me speedily, O Lord . Here the direct supplication of Psalms 143:1 is taken up, and pressed. "Hear me, O Lord; and not only hear me, but that speedily. It is a time for haste" (comp. Psalms 141:1 ). My spirit faileth ; or, "fainteth" ( LXX ; ἐξέλιπε ). Hide not thy face from me (comp. Psalms 27:9 ; Psalms 69:17 ; Psalms 102:2 ). Lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit (see the comment on Psalms 28:1 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 143:7

Becoming like unto them that go down into the pit; Such was the psalmist's horrible dread, the extreme terror of his soul. I. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ? The dead were they who went down into the pit. 1. The expression is one of those which mark the intense repulsion with which the Old Testament saints regarded death . Listen to David's piteous cry, "Oh, spare me that I may recover strength," etc. ( Psalms 39:1-13 .; cf. also Psalms 88:1-7 , Psalms 88:10-12 ; Psalms... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 143:7

“Hear me speedily, O Lord.” Hasten to hear me; do not delay. Literally, “Hasten; answer me.” I am in imminent danger. Do not delay to come to my relief.My spirit faileth - My strength is declining. I can hold out no longer. I am ready to give up and die.Hide not thy face from me - Do not refuse or delay to look favorably upon me; to lift up the light of thy countenance upon me.Lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit - Margin, “For I am become like.” The idea is, Unless thou shalt... read more

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