Psalm 143:7-12 - "Answer Me, ...Revive Me"

Psalm 143 fits the pattern of so many of David’s psalms. The first verses reveal his pain, his feelings, his despair, his grief, that reveal his desperate circumstances. He acknowledges that he is surrounded by his enemies. Remember his greatest and worse enemies were not the hated Philistines, but often it was those who were close to him. Sometimes it was his own family members, other times it was those he thought were his friends and counselors. David begins many of his psalms speaking of how his spirit is overwhelmed and his soul is full of troubles. This prompts him to cry out to the LORD for help and deliverance. In the first six verses of Psalm 143, David asks for God to “hear his prayer and give ear to his supplications”. He recalls and appeals to God’s faithfulness and His righteousness and pleads for mercy not judgment. (vs. 1-2). Now in verses 7-12, David is asking God to “answer him speedily” and with expectation and anticipation waits for the LORD to deliver him (v. 9), and to cut off and destroy his enemies (v. 12). Did you notice how most of the verses begin? “Answer me”, “Cause me”, “Deliver me”, “Teach me”, “Revive me”. The answers for which David was waiting anxiously are the same answers we want to receive today. For one thing, we want to see God's face (v. 7). David had often heard the priestly benediction declare that God's face would shine upon His people in gracious blessing (Num. 6:22-27), but if He was displeased, He would hide His face from them (Psalms 10:1; 13:1; 69:17; 102:2). To know the shining of His face means to walk in the light of His countenance and enjoy the smile of God upon our lives, but the absence of that blessing was like a living death (Psalm 28:1). We also want to hear God's Word (v. 8). To see His smile and hear His voice gives us the strength we need to overcome the enemy. David moved from the darkness he was experiencing in verse 3, to the morning and the dawning of a new day in verse 8. David expressed this desire in many of his prayers in psalms (Psalms 5:3; 30:5; 59:16; 88:13; 130:6; 90:14). The Word reminded him of God's unfailing love, and the Word strengthened his faith (Rom. 10:17) and gave him guidance on the dangerous path he had to take from the cave to the crown. We also want the blessing of experiencing the protection of God (v. 9). Jehovah was David's "Rock" in which he took “shelter” (Psalms 18:2, 31, 46; 19:14). He knew he could hide himself in "the cleft of the Rock" (Ex. 33:22) and be safe from his enemies. This reminds us of the old hymn, "Rock of ages/ Cleft for me/ Let me hide myself in Thee." Another answer we want to receive from the Lord is a knowledge of the will of God (v. 10). His good Spirit, (Neh. 9:20), teaches us from the Word and shows us the path we should take (Psalm 119:105). A knowledge of God's will is what gives us confidence in the difficulties of life; it keeps us going when the going gets tough. Finally, God answers prayer by helping us bring glory to His great name (vv. 11-12). "For Your name's sake" and “for Your righteousness’ sake…”  was the great motivation of David's life and ministry (1 Sam. 17:26, 36, 45-47). "Hallowed be Thy name" is the first request in the Lord's Prayer, and it ought to be the motivation of all our prayers. David knew that he had a great work to do for the Lord, and he depended on the Lord to help him accomplish it and bring honor to His name. May the LORD help us to follow this pattern of prayer in our lives! God bless!