Psalms 143

August 24, 2018
|In Blog, Psalms
|By Larry Shaffer

Blowing Rock, North Caralina

For today, let’s take a break from 2 Corinthians and consider a Psalm

Psalms 143

“Hear my prayer, O Lord; Give ear to my supplications! Answer me in Your faithfulness, in Your righteousness!

Bringing accountability into my life to have daily time with God has been so good for me. However, I could say sometimes I love it and other times, well, I don’t. When I encounter times when I don’t “feel” close to God and the Words of scripture are flat and my prayers seem distant, the daily accountability doesn’t allow me to do what I used to do.  Avoid God and start the day by listening to the news or reading emails. I used to avoid God until I “felt” closer to Him. 

I encourage you to make a note somewhere that says, “if spiritually discouraged, read Psalms 143.” Here is the “state of mind” David is in:  

1) his soul is persecuted; 2) his life is crushed; 3) his spirit is overwhelmed. 4) his heart is appalled within him.  

When I feel like this, my instinct is to avoid God. Instead, David goes after Him hard. He calls on God:  

  1. hear my prayer 
  2. give ear to my supplication 
  3. answer me in Your faithfulness 
  4. do not hide Your face from me
  5. answer me quickly before my heart fails 
  6. let me HEAR YOUR LOVINGKINDNESS IN THE MORNING 
  7. teach me  
  8. deliver me 
  9. let Your Good Spirit lead me on level ground.  

Wow! Also, interspersed in this Psalm are affirmations of David’s beliefs of God: 1) I remember the days of old, 2) I meditate on all Your doings, 3) I muse on the works of Your hands, 4) I stretch out my hands to you, 5) I trust in You, 6) for to You I lift up my soul, 7) for YOU ARE MY GOD, 8) for I am your servant.  

Lord, thank you for leading me to this psalm this morning. Your timing is always perfect; your patience with me is everlasting; your love and kindness is always before me. Praise you and thank you for lifting up my soul this morning! Hear me, answer me and make yourself easily seen by me…. all because of YOUR faithfulness and righteousness!

“If spiritually discouraged, read Psalms 143.” Amen.