Bible Commentaries
Psalms 143

Introduction

Overview

Psalms 143:1, David prays for favour in judgment; Psalms 143:3, He complains of his griefs; Psalms 143:5, He strengthens his faith by meditation and prayer; Psalms 143:7, He prays for grace; Psalms 143:9, for deliverance; Psalms 143:10, for sanctification; Psalms 143:12, for destruction of his enemies;

The LXX, Vulgate, Ethiopic, and Arabic state that this Psalm was composed by David on the rebellion of his son Absalom; and there are several passages in it which agree remarkably well with that period; for then he had most reason to fear lest God should deal with him according to his sins; which he deprecates with such a deep sense of his unworthiness, that it has hence been numbered among the penitential Psalms, of which it is the last.

Psalms 143:1-12 David’s Type of Prayer References · Prays to God for pardon Psalms 143:1 · Acknowledges the impossibility of being saved but by grace Psalms 143:2 · Deplores the lamentable effects of sin Psalms 143:3, Psalms 143:4 · Comforts himself with a retrospect of God’s mercies of old Psalms 143:5 · Prays, in a variety of expressions, for remission of sin, sanctification, and redemption Psalms 143:6-12

Verse 1

thy faithfulness: Psalms 31:1, Psalms 71:2, 2 Samuel 7:25, Daniel 9:16, 1 John 1:9

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 13:22 - spare me Psalms 27:7 - General Psalms 30:10 - Hear Psalms 36:10 - and thy Psalms 54:5 - cut Psalms 64:1 - Hear Psalms 143:11 - for thy righteousness' Luke 22:62 - and wept

Verse 2

enter not: Psalms 130:3, Job 14:3

in thy sight: Exodus 34:7, Job 4:17, Job 9:2, Job 9:3, Job 15:14, Job 25:4, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Romans 3:20, Galatians 2:16, 1 John 1:10

Reciprocal: Numbers 11:11 - wherefore have 1 Kings 8:46 - there is no man 2 Chronicles 6:36 - for there is no man Ezra 9:15 - we cannot Nehemiah 13:22 - spare me Job 9:20 - justify Job 9:32 - we should Job 10:2 - Do not Job 22:4 - will he enter Job 31:14 - What then Psalms 4:1 - have mercy upon me Psalms 27:7 - General Psalms 36:10 - and thy Isaiah 3:14 - enter Jeremiah 49:19 - appoint me the time Luke 15:21 - against Luke 18:14 - justified Acts 13:39 - from which Romans 2:13 - justified 1 Corinthians 4:4 - yet Galatians 3:11 - that Galatians 3:22 - concluded Philippians 3:9 - not Titus 3:5 - by works James 2:21 - justified 1 John 1:8 - say

Verse 3

the enemy: Psalms 7:1, Psalms 7:2, Psalms 17:9-13, Psalms 35:4, Psalms 54:3, Psalms 142:6

smitten: Psalms 7:5, 2 Samuel 2:22, 2 Samuel 18:11

made me: Psalms 31:12, Psalms 31:13, Psalms 88:4-6, Ezekiel 37:11

Reciprocal: Psalms 13:2 - exalted Psalms 25:19 - Consider Psalms 31:15 - deliver Psalms 40:2 - brought Psalms 42:5 - Why art thou cast down Psalms 88:3 - soul Psalms 88:6 - darkness Psalms 88:12 - dark Psalms 89:39 - profaned Psalms 102:4 - heart Psalms 141:8 - leave not my soul destitute Lamentations 3:6 - in dark

Verse 4

is my spirit: Psalms 55:5, Psalms 61:2, Psalms 77:3, Psalms 102:1, *title Psalms 124:4, Psalms 142:3, Job 6:27

my heart: Psalms 25:16, Psalms 102:3, Psalms 102:4, Psalms 119:81-83, Luke 22:44

Reciprocal: Ezra 9:3 - sat Psalms 6:6 - I am Psalms 13:2 - exalted Psalms 38:10 - heart Psalms 42:5 - Why art thou cast down Psalms 57:6 - my soul Psalms 88:3 - soul Psalms 88:8 - put Psalms 141:8 - leave not my soul destitute Romans 8:26 - with

Verse 5

remember: Psalms 42:6, Psalms 77:5, Psalms 77:6, Psalms 77:10-12, Psalms 111:4, Deuteronomy 8:2, Deuteronomy 8:3, 1 Samuel 17:34-37, 1 Samuel 17:45-50, Isaiah 63:7-14, Micah 6:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:63 - to meditate Nehemiah 4:14 - remember Psalms 77:3 - spirit Psalms 77:12 - meditate Psalms 111:2 - sought Psalms 119:52 - remembered Isaiah 26:8 - desire Isaiah 63:11 - he remembered Amos 9:11 - as in Jonah 2:7 - I remembered Micah 7:14 - as 1 Timothy 4:15 - Meditate

Verse 6

stretch forth: Psalms 44:20, Psalms 88:9, Job 11:13

my soul: Psalms 42:1, Psalms 42:2, Psalms 63:1, Psalms 84:2, Isaiah 26:8, Isaiah 26:9, Isaiah 35:7, John 7:37

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:63 - to meditate Exodus 9:29 - spread Deuteronomy 4:4 - General 1 Samuel 1:15 - poured 1 Chronicles 11:17 - longed 2 Chronicles 6:12 - spread forth Ezra 9:5 - spread Job 7:2 - earnestly desireth Psalms 28:2 - when Psalms 63:8 - followeth Psalms 68:31 - stretch Psalms 73:25 - none upon Psalms 116:4 - O Lord Isaiah 37:14 - and Hezekiah went Isaiah 55:1 - every Lamentations 3:41 - lift Habakkuk 3:9 - Selah Luke 6:21 - ye that hunger Luke 22:44 - being Revelation 7:16 - hunger

Verse 7

Hear me: Psalms 13:1-4, Psalms 40:13, Psalms 40:17, Psalms 70:5, Psalms 71:12

my spirit: Psalms 40:12, Psalms 69:3, Isaiah 57:16, Luke 21:26

hide not: Psalms 22:24, Psalms 27:9, Psalms 69:17, Isaiah 8:17

lest I be like: etc. or, for I am become like, etc

unto them: Psalms 28:1, Psalms 88:4-6, Psalms 88:10, Psalms 88:11, Isaiah 38:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 4:14 - from thy Numbers 16:33 - into the 2 Chronicles 9:4 - there was Job 6:4 - drinketh up Job 17:16 - the bars of the pit Job 34:29 - when he hideth Psalms 30:7 - thou Psalms 30:10 - Hear Psalms 31:2 - deliver Psalms 42:1 - so panteth Psalms 54:2 - General Psalms 55:1 - hide Psalms 63:8 - followeth Psalms 70:1 - O God Psalms 101:2 - O when Psalms 102:1 - Hear Psalms 102:2 - Hide Psalms 119:123 - General Psalms 141:1 - make haste Psalms 142:6 - for I am Proverbs 1:12 - whole Proverbs 13:12 - Hope Isaiah 38:14 - I am Lamentations 3:6 - in dark Jonah 2:6 - corruption Luke 18:8 - he will Luke 22:44 - being

Verse 8

to hear: Psalms 30:5, Psalms 42:8, Psalms 46:5, *marg. Psalms 59:16, Genesis 32:24-29, Hosea 6:3

cause me: Psalms 143:10, Psalms 5:8, Psalms 25:4, Psalms 25:5, Psalms 27:11, Psalms 32:8, Psalms 119:34, Psalms 119:73, Proverbs 3:5, Proverbs 3:6, Isaiah 30:21, Isaiah 48:17

for I lift: Psalms 25:1, Psalms 86:4, Lamentations 3:41

Reciprocal: Exodus 18:20 - the way 2 Samuel 2:1 - inquired 1 Kings 8:36 - thou teach Ezra 8:21 - to seek Nehemiah 9:12 - in the way Job 22:26 - lift up Job 34:32 - which Psalms 23:3 - leadeth Psalms 24:4 - lifted Psalms 40:17 - make Psalms 73:24 - Thou Psalms 86:11 - Teach Psalms 101:2 - O when Psalms 119:10 - O let me Psalms 119:26 - teach Psalms 139:24 - and lead Proverbs 2:9 - General Proverbs 14:8 - wisdom Isaiah 33:2 - be thou Jeremiah 42:3 - General Matthew 1:20 - while Acts 22:10 - What Galatians 5:18 - if 2 Timothy 2:7 - and

Verse 9

flee unto thee: Heb. hide me with thee, Psalms 34:2-4, Psalms 56:9, Psalms 61:3, Psalms 61:4, Psalms 142:5, Proverbs 18:10, Hebrews 6:18

Reciprocal: Psalms 32:7 - my Psalms 64:2 - Hide Psalms 69:17 - hide Psalms 119:86 - help Psalms 139:10 - General Isaiah 26:20 - hide Isaiah 32:2 - an hiding 2 Timothy 2:7 - and

Verse 10

Teach: Psalms 25:4, Psalms 25:5, Psalms 25:8, Psalms 25:9, Psalms 25:12, Psalms 119:5-7, Psalms 119:12, Psalms 119:35, Psalms 139:24, Micah 4:2, Matthew 28:20, Colossians 1:9, Colossians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:2, Hebrews 13:21, 1 John 2:27

for thou art: Psalms 22:1, Psalms 31:14, Psalms 63:1, Psalms 118:28, Psalms 140:6

thy spirit: Nehemiah 9:20, Isaiah 63:14, John 14:26, John 16:13-15, Romans 5:5, Romans 8:2, Romans 8:14-16, Romans 8:26, Romans 15:13, Romans 15:30, Galatians 5:22, Galatians 5:23, Ephesians 4:30, Ephesians 5:9, 2 Timothy 1:7

the land: Isaiah 29:10

Reciprocal: Exodus 4:12 - General Numbers 9:22 - abode Psalms 31:3 - lead Psalms 43:3 - lead Psalms 119:7 - when Psalms 119:124 - teach Psalms 139:10 - General Psalms 143:8 - cause me Isaiah 26:10 - in the John 9:31 - and doeth 1 Corinthians 12:8 - is given 1 Thessalonians 4:3 - this Hebrews 10:29 - the Spirit 1 Peter 4:2 - the will 1 John 2:17 - but

Verse 11

Quicken: Psalms 85:6, Psalms 119:25, Psalms 119:37, Psalms 119:40, Psalms 119:88, Psalms 119:107, Psalms 138:7, Habakkuk 3:2, Ephesians 2:4, Ephesians 2:5

for thy righteousness': Psalms 143:1, Psalms 9:7, Psalms 9:8, Psalms 31:1, Psalms 71:2

bring: Psalms 25:17, Psalms 34:19, Psalms 37:39, Psalms 37:40, Psalms 91:15, Psalms 91:16, Revelation 7:14-17

Reciprocal: Job 3:26 - yet trouble came Psalms 25:11 - thy Psalms 31:3 - lead Psalms 106:8 - he saved Psalms 109:21 - But do Psalms 142:7 - my soul Isaiah 48:9 - my name's Micah 6:5 - know

Verse 12

of thy mercy: Psalms 54:5, Psalms 55:23, Psalms 136:15-20, 1 Samuel 24:12-15, 1 Samuel 25:29, 1 Samuel 26:10

for I am thy: Psalms 116:16, Psalms 119:94

Reciprocal: Judges 16:28 - that I may Psalms 31:1 - deliver Psalms 31:15 - deliver Psalms 36:1 - servant Psalms 55:19 - hear Psalms 56:1 - Be Psalms 59:1 - Deliver Psalms 86:2 - save Psalms 109:21 - But do Isaiah 14:1 - the Lord Acts 27:23 - and Romans 6:22 - become