The stillness and darkness became most oppressive.”
–Zane Grey (The Lost Pueblo)
“His life is the light that shines through the darkness—and the darkness can never extinguish it.”
–John 1:5 (TLB)
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Psalm 143 is a plea for help, yet at the same time one of trust. As you read this psalm, think of the “enemy” that is chasing you. It is a person, a habit, sin, sickness, or something else. Then be like David and take appropriate action, by first coming to the Lord.
1 — Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your righteousness.
2 — Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous.
3 — For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been dead.
4 — Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is distressed.
5 — I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands.
6 — I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah (NKJV)
David is telling us that no one could ever pass God’s inspection. We are all unrighteous before Him, and unless we come to the point of repentance we are in sore trouble. However, with repentance there is hope, for when God looks at us He sees not our unrighteousness, but the righteousness of His Son. David is depending upon God’s faithfulness to answer him in his need.
Whatever the enemy is, it has crushed David. He doesn’t feel like he can go on and is down in the dirt. The “woe is me, nobody loves me…” syndrome is upon him, “he might want to go eat some worms.” George Wood says that David is facing, “The nighttime of the soul brings the despair of unanswered questions.” He is like the dead, robbed of the pleasures and enjoyments of this life. He is crushed, overwhelmed, devastated mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Then, thank the Lord there is always “then.” Then David remembers how God was with him in the past. He remembers God’s word and how God has brought him through many trials. Have you ever been thirsty to the point of not thinking of anything but a cool, quenching drink of water? David finds that his soul is parched like the arid desert longing for the refreshing rain that comes with the Holy Spirit. “When your inner life is cracked and dry, it’s time to lift your hands in supplication and surrender.” (Wood)
In times like those that David faced, and I’m sure that each of us has faced such times at least once in our life, we need to turn back to the source of our strength. Return to the God of our salvation. Charles H. Spurgeon said that we should, “Delight yourself in all your heavenly Father’s handwork, and make it to be a ladder by which you climb to Himself.” Trust Him in the dark times–know that He is there.
“Still to the lowly soul
He doth Himself impart,
And for His dwelling and His throne,
Chooseth the pure in heart.”
–John Keble
——————————–
Psalm 143 is a plea for help, yet at the same time one of trust. As you read this psalm, think of the “enemy” that is chasing you. It is a person, a habit, sin, sickness, or something else. Then be like David and take appropriate action, by first coming to the Lord.
1 — Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your righteousness.
2 — Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous.
3 — For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been dead.
4 — Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is distressed.
5 — I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands.
6 — I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah (NKJV)
David is telling us that no one could ever pass God’s inspection. We are all unrighteous before Him, and unless we come to the point of repentance we are in sore trouble. However, with repentance there is hope, for when God looks at us He sees not our unrighteousness, but the righteousness of His Son. David is depending upon God’s faithfulness to answer him in his need.
Whatever the enemy is, it has crushed David. He doesn’t feel like he can go on and is down in the dirt. The “woe is me, nobody loves me…” syndrome is upon him, “he might want to go eat some worms.” George Wood says that David is facing, “The nighttime of the soul brings the despair of unanswered questions.” He is like the dead, robbed of the pleasures and enjoyments of this life. He is crushed, overwhelmed, devastated mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Then, thank the Lord there is always “then.” Then David remembers how God was with him in the past. He remembers God’s word and how God has brought him through many trials. Have you ever been thirsty to the point of not thinking of anything but a cool, quenching drink of water? David finds that his soul is parched like the arid desert longing for the refreshing rain that comes with the Holy Spirit. “When your inner life is cracked and dry, it’s time to lift your hands in supplication and surrender.” (Wood)
In times like those that David faced, and I’m sure that each of us has faced such times at least once in our life, we need to turn back to the source of our strength. Return to the God of our salvation. Charles H. Spurgeon said that we should, “Delight yourself in all your heavenly Father’s handwork, and make it to be a ladder by which you climb to Himself.” Trust Him in the dark times–know that He is there.
“Still to the lowly soul
He doth Himself impart,
And for His dwelling and His throne,
Chooseth the pure in heart.”
–John Keble