Day 886: Psalm 143: Struggle And Guidance

Hear my prayer, O Lord;
    give ear to my pleas for mercy!
    In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,
    for no one living is righteous before you.
3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;
    he has crushed my life to the ground;
    he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
    my heart within me is appalled.
5 I remember the days of old;
    I meditate on all that you have done;
    I ponder the work of your hands.
6 I stretch out my hands to you;
    my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah
7 Answer me quickly, O Lord!
    My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
    lest I be like those who go down to the pit.

8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
    for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
    for to you I lift up my soul.
9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
    I have fled to you for refuge.
10 Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
    on level ground!
11 For your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
    In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
    and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
    for I am your servant.
 
Meditation
Understanding of God’s sovereignty transforms our prayers of desperation into pleas to discern Divine direction. God’s sovereign grace will lead us through our struggles, pain, and problems to a stronger place.
 
David is struggling, pleading for mercy (1). David diagnosis his struggles and turns his prayers into pleas for guidance. David’s enemies are “pursuing,” “crushing,” and “destroying.” David’s spirit is “faint” and “failing.” The urgency for God to answer is clear: “Answer me quickly, Lord! My Spirit fails!” (7)
 
David’s prayer focuses on God’s faithfulness before seeking guidance moving forward. David meditates by taking time to remember and reflect on God’s faithfulness in the past, the work of His hands that have previously helped (4-6).
 
Focusing on God’s faithfulness in our struggles leaves us longing for a way forward, a path for higher ground and the dawn of a new day. God’s steadfast love (8, 12) leads us to long for direction: “Let me know the way I should go… Teach me Your will…. Let your Spirit lead me… I am your servant” (7-12).
 
The pain and problems of life are never the end of the story. God’s sovereign grace is working all things for the good of His people and His own glory (Romans 8:28). Resting in God’s sovereignty during our struggles and suffering transforms our hearts to hope, leading us to look for a path forward as we long for Him to redeem all He has allowed.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from David’s desperation and seeking Divine direction?
 
-Where do you turn during times of desperation? What direction does this take you?
 
-How can trusting God’s sovereignty turn your heart to hope in Him, helping you see your struggles are not the end of the story and that He is working things for His glory? Where in your heart do you need to surrender to this reality?
 
Key Verse
9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to you for refuge. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!