Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

To my knowledge, David wrote Psalm 143 at a time when he was fleeing from the rebellion of his son Absalom, who had been joined in his uprising against David by David's former advisor Ahithophel. (This was part of the temporal consequence that God had imposed on David because of his adultery with Bathsheba, and his ordering the murder of Bathsheba's husband Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 11-12).)

In Psalm 143, even under such dire circumstances (and although he would have known that those circumstances were part of a judgment from God), David did not lose his faith in God, but still looked to Him for help, strength, and ultimate deliverance.

In the same way, Christians are to look past adverse temporal circumstances. They can do this because they have the assurance of Scripture (Romans 8:28) that God makes ALL things (not just favorable events) work together for good to those who love Him, (which should motivate them to look for that potential good in any situation, rather than concentrating only on misfortunes).

They also have the future assurance through faith in Christ of an eternity spent in God's presence, with which any troubles of this present life are not even worth comparing (Romans 8:18), and of which Christ's resurrection is the guarantee.

November 01 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What could Psalm 143 teach us about disappointment/depression/defeat?

Psalm 143 teaches that in times of intense disappointment, depression, or defeat, one should turn to God with raw honesty, pleading for mercy rather than relying on self-strength. David models transforming despair into direction by focusing on God's faithfulness, meditating on past blessings, and surrendering control, even while feeling overwhelmed. 

This psalm offers a roadmap from despair to hope by validating the emotional pain of defeat while anchoring the soul in the steadfast love of God. 

Key lessons from Psalm 143:

1: Raw Honesty in Prayer: David does not pretend to be strong; he expresses being "crushed to the ground" and feeling "dead inside". It teaches that it is acceptable to tell God you are overwhelmed and losing hope.

2: Shifting Focus to God's Character: Instead of dwelling solely on the problem, the Psalmist focuses on God's righteousness, faithfulness, and lovingkindness.

3: Remembering Past Deliverance: When facing present darkness, the psalm encourages meditating on what God has done in the past to build hope for the future.

4: Surrender and Guidance: The psalm promotes asking for guidance ("Teach me to do your will") and submitting to God's path, moving from a "pity party" to active, trust-filled reliance.

5: Releasing Shame: It highlights the need to let go of self-condemnation, acknowledging that God's grace is sufficient even when facing the consequences of one's own mistakes.

Though a sinful mortal, David had faith that Jehovah would hear his entreaty. He humbly pleaded: "Hear my prayer, O Jehovah; give ear to my supplications: In thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. 2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant; For in thy sight no man living is righteous." (Psalm 143:1, 2 ESV)

David was conscious of his imperfection, yet his heart was complete toward God. Thus, he was confident that he would receive an answer in righteousness. Does this not encourage us? Even though we fall short of God's righteousness, we can be convinced that he hears us if our hearts are complete toward him. (Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 John 5:14) While persevering in prayer, we must be intent on "conquering the evil with the good" in these wicked days.—Romans 12:20, 21; James 4:7.

To benefit from God's spirit, we must be as willing to follow its lead as David was. He prayed: Psalm 143::10 ESV "Teach me to do thy will; For thou art my God: Thy Spirit is good; Lead me in the land of uprightness."

David, who had been outlawed by the Israelite king Saul, wanted God's spirit to lead him so that he would be sure his course was upright. In time, Abiathar brought a priest's ephod used to ascertain God's will. As God's priestly representative, Abiathar instructed David in the way to please Jehovah.

Conclusion:

Psalm 143, traditionally attributed to King David during a time of extreme distress—likely while fleeing from his son Absalom—provides a raw and structured template for navigating disappointment, depression, and defeat.

The Lesson: When current circumstances feel defeated, looking back at past faithfulness provides a necessary anchor. Meditating on God's history helps shift the focus from one's own limited strength to God's track record of intervention.

3 days ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report