Psalms 143:6 - Exposition

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 makes a division of the psalm into two parts.