Psalm 143
A psalm of David.
1 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
listen to my plea!
Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.
2 Don’t put your servant on trial,
for no one is innocent before you.
3 My enemy has chased me.
He has knocked me to the ground
and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave.
4 I am losing all hope;
I am paralyzed with fear.
5 I remember the days of old.
I ponder all your great works
and think about what you have done.
6 I lift my hands to you in prayer.
I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. Interlude
listen to my plea!
Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.
2 Don’t put your servant on trial,
for no one is innocent before you.
3 My enemy has chased me.
He has knocked me to the ground
and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave.
4 I am losing all hope;
I am paralyzed with fear.
5 I remember the days of old.
I ponder all your great works
and think about what you have done.
6 I lift my hands to you in prayer.
I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. Interlude
7 Come quickly, Lord, and answer me,
for my depression deepens.
Don’t turn away from me,
or I will die.
8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,
for I am trusting you.
Show me where to walk,
for I give myself to you.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord;
I run to you to hide me.
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
May your gracious Spirit lead me forward
on a firm footing.
11 For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life.
Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.
12 In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies
and destroy all my foes,
for I am your servant.
for my depression deepens.
Don’t turn away from me,
or I will die.
8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,
for I am trusting you.
Show me where to walk,
for I give myself to you.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord;
I run to you to hide me.
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
May your gracious Spirit lead me forward
on a firm footing.
11 For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life.
Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.
12 In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies
and destroy all my foes,
for I am your servant.
teach me to do Your Will, for You are my God.
I love what David does in this Psalm. It's evident that he is going through something that has put him into some sort of depression, but listen to the first thing he says.
He calls out the unchanging attributes of God...
He calls out the unchanging attributes of God...
"...Answer me because you are faithful and righteous..."
He then reminds God that he is still His servant.
"...Don’t put your servant on trial..."
He focuses first on God and who He is, that he is still God's servant and then he points out what the enemy has done. What the enemy has done to David is what happens to so many of us. Knocks us to the ground, forces us to live in darkness, blinds us to hope, and paralyzes us with fear.
What David does next is key to his victory. He remembers all of the things that God has done for him. There is so much power in the testimony of our lives and remembering all that God has done for us. He then, despite what he was feeling, raised his hands in prayer and tells God that He is what will satisfy him.
His prayer intensifies as he tells the LORD to come quick to him.
If the enemy has come at you with unexpected finances, an unexpected doctor's report, anything that has "knocked you to the ground," let's take advice from David.
Call out to God because He remains faithful, righteous and in His unfailing love He responds as we cry out in faith.
Heavenly Father,
I pray that the life of your servant David would encourage us today.
Father when we come against opposition may we always remain faithful to call out to your faithfulness. You are our provider to every need that we may have. I love you my Lord.
In Jesus' Name
Amen
My dear Shauna it is like you've read my mind. I feel Knocked down, kicked, and sometimes defeated and I am glad the word reminds us that we are overcomers-I love Mandisa's new song by the way but I need to know that god is always there through the midst of the storm and especially when we are weak and that's how I feel now. Thanks so much for sharing the word and your heart.
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