Notes on the Book of Psalms, Psalm 143
The cxliii. PSALM.
David under great persecution and trouble, prayes earnestly that God would not, as he might, proceed against him in relation to himself, but against his enemies in relation to him, for though as to God he was a sinner, to them he was none, who therefore injuriously sought his life to his extream perplexity. Yet he comforts himelf in God his former mercies, and prayers to him for present deliverance, and perseverance in holiness, and concludeth with prayer for his own preservation and his enemies destruction.
Psalm cxliii. A Psalm of David.A Psalm made by David.
1HEar my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications in thy faithfulness answer me, & in thy righteousness.1 MY calamities are such as put me upon vehement and often supplications to thy Majesty for deliverance; O that thou wouldest hear me once for all, by putting a period to my misery, according to the faithfulness of thy promise in that behalf, and the gracious nature that is in thee in justice to deliver the oppressed.
2And enter not into judgement with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.2 Let not mine afflictions be the punishments of my sins, as I confess they justly may, for then shall I be hopeless and they endless, but remember me under another notion, as one chosen and called through grace to be thy servant, and that in eminent place in thy Church, consider me as such I pray thee, in mercy to pardon and pass by my sinfulness, for it is not mine innocency but thy clemency that must acquit me as to thee, though as to mine enemies I dare plead it, but not as to thee, who art a God of pure eyes, and seest sin enough in me and every one else, seem he never so righteous in the eye of the world or his own, utterly and for ever to sentence us to hell, much more to punish us here.
3 It is justice betwixt me and mine enemies that I sue for,3For the enemie hath persecuted my soul, he hath smitten my life down to the ground: he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. to be of grace vouchsafed me, for they have unjustly hunted after my life for a long time together, and have brought it as near to death as could be possible, and banished me the society and communion of men, to seek sanctuary in wildernesses and caves, solitary and desolate, disregarded, and given of all for lost, never to recover any better fortune, no more than for a man that is dead and buried to arise.
4 Which uncomfortable forlorn cast-away condition doth grievously affect me with trouble of mind,4Therefore is my spirit over-whelmed within me: my heart within me is desolate. and makes my heart as void of comfort within, as my life is without.
5 Yet,5I remember the dayes of old, I meditate on all thy works: I muse on the work of thine hands. Lord, do not I altogether count my self, as others do, but for all I am so as I am, my hope is still in thee, I consider how it hath been both with my self and other thy servants of old; what difficulties they have waded through, what deliverances and preservations they have had, and from what an ebb-condition thou hast by thy mighty power and goodness raised them, and truly this holds mine head still above water, and sustains me in faith and hope.
6 So that I cease not to pray,6I stretch forth mine hands unto thee: my soul thin steth after thee, as a th…rsty land. S…la…. my danger stops not my mouth, nor makes me desperate, but in the hope I have in thee (though destitute of all else) I make my fervent addresses to thee, with an eager desire to be heard and to enjoy the fruits of thy promises, never did the chawned earth more need and desire the rain to moisten it in time of drought, than doth this heart of mine thirst after the supplement of grace in this my calamity. Thou Lord knowest it.
7 And therefore accordingly vouchsafe to expedite help unto me,7Hea… me speedily, O Lord, my spirit saileth: hide not thy face from me, least I be like unto them that go down into the pit. for truly such outward miseries, inward perplexities, and forcible heart-breathings after thee, will quickly expire me, I cannot long live under such heavy burdens and depressions of nature, they will consume me, if thou doest not quickly afford some reviving by timely redress, and effectuall favour, which I beseech thee to do, least death and destruction seize suddenly upon me, which (to speak humanely) I am within a very little of.
8Cause me to heathy loving kindness in the morning, for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I shall walk, for I lift up my soul unto thee.8 Whilest yet there is hope before life extinct, make hast to help me, and as it were to revive my dying decaying spirits with some cordiall of grace and timo…s deliverance, for my trust is still in thee for it, how low soever I am brought; point me out by thy singer of direction and hand of providence, how I may come safe out of this inextricable labyrinth of troubles, wherewith I am incumbred, and know no way to escape them but by immediate and miraculous mercy, for which I am an humble suitour to thee, with all the powers of my soul that is left me.
9Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flie unto thee to hide me.9 Thy effectuall grace in my powerfull deliverance is mine humble and earnest suit, I put up unto thee, that mine enemies who seek and make sure of my life, may not destroy it, which they will certainly and suddenly do, if thou prevent not, to whom onelyonly I flie from them, for no place on earth can escape them.
10Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God: thy spirit is good, lead me in the land of uprightness.10 And as I beg to be preserved by thy power out of the hands of mine enemies, so by thy grace out of the power of my corruptions, which by reason of my temptations are very stirring and hardly suppressed, inclining me upon occasion to deviate, but my trust is in thee, and prayer unto thee for this as well as that, sinne being as death to me, therefore for thy goodness sake which hath so freely and so fully ingaged thee to be every way a gracious God unto me, and specially in soul-concernments. Lord, teach me at every turn and in every strait what is thy will, and how to obey it, by the powerfull energie of thy spirit, which himself is good, and can make me so, by his efficacious impowering my spirit thereunto, maugre all temptations within or without, yea, all my life long effectually dispose me to walk in the way of holiness and righteousness, which onelyonly leads unto everlasting life, the new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness; a pattern whereof shall be that flourishing estate of thy Church in holiness, shortly to be accomplished to thine Israel by and under me a figure of Christ, which, good Lord, teach me how to attain to, that my sins debar me not so great a blessing.
11 For the glory of thy power,11Quicken me, O Lord, for thy names sake: for thy righteousness sake bring my soul out of trouble. which is so highly esteemed and little feared by mine enemies, do thou manifest it, in (as it were) my resurrection from the dead, for such am I in effect, and in all humane appearance; and for thy faithfulness sake both in point of grace and justice, be mindfull of me thy servant wrongfully oppressed and persecuted, to set me free from these deadly dangers I am continually in.
12 And of meer compassion to me in so great misery undertake my cause and quarrell,12And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant. that without cause am thus persecuted to the death by violent and bloudy enemies who are untreatable, and from whom I must never expect other, till thou shalt disable them to destroy me, by destroying them, which I pray thee do, as an act of mercy to my wronged innocency, let none escape, that would not have me do so, that my soul may be free from these distractions to serve thee, for thereunto through mercy am I designed, and by grace am I called.