I. (143:1–2) Hear Me, and Do Not Put Me on Trial. The opening cry for help asks God, “Give ear to my pleas for mercy”; the person praying here is aware of his own sins that would warrant God’s forsaking him. Hence he prays (v. 2), “Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living [which includes the person praying] is righteous before you.”

The term “righteous” in the Psalms, when applied to people, commonly describes either the people of God in general (125:3) or especially the faithful within the people (140:13). Here, however, the idea seems to be “qualified to stand in God’s presence” (cf. Rom. 4:9–11), and not even the faithful are that in themselves (cf. comment on 32:6–11). Therefore the “mercy” he prays for is not only relief from the immediate situation but God’s merciful acceptance of him.

At the same time, God’s “righteousness” (Ps. 143:1) in the Psalms most commonly describes his reliability, as is the case here, since it is parallel to “faithfulness.”

II. (143:3–4) I Am Faint Because the Enemy Pursues Me. The next section describes how the enemy’s pursuit has drained the psalmist of all vigor (cf. 142:3–4). The faithful person feels himself utterly ruined and desperate, and his “spirit faints within” him. When the “spirit” or “soul” is said to “faint,” the person is at the end of his strength and ability to strive (77:3; 107:5; 142:3; Isa. 57:16; Jonah 2:7).

III. (143:5–6) I Reach Out to You in Trust. Being at the end of one’s strength need not mean he give up; instead, if he can “remember the days of old” (the great deeds God has done for his people as a whole and for so many needy individuals in the past), he can have fresh courage to “stretch out [his] hands” to God. The weary soul “thirsts” for God as its source of energy.

Psalm 77:10–12 has the congregation do a similar remembering. There, however, the focus is on the whole community, while here it is on the particular member of the community. (The corporate and the individual are not seen as over against each other in the Bible!)

IV. (143:7–8) Answer Me Quickly! The situation is still dire, however, and the person praying is still desperate; therefore, he asks, “Answer me quickly” (v. 7).

The psalm allows the person in such straits to put his fears into words. For the Lord to “hide his face” is for him to refuse to shine the light of his face upon his people (cf. Num. 6:24–26; Deut. 31:17; 32:20 [contrast Ps. 80:3]; Pss. 10:11; 13:1; 22:24; 27:9; 30:7; 44:24; 69:17; 88:14; 102:2; 104:29). Likewise, “those who go down to the pit” are those who die under God’s displeasure. This is the fear, and it explains the request to “hear in the morning” of God’s “steadfast love”—whatever time of day he prays, he looks for reassurance soon! This hearing would correspond to the Lord’s hearing of the prayer (cf. 143:1). The specific relief may take longer, but the reminder of God’s steadfast love enables him to endure (v. 12).

The singer also prays for moral guidance: “Make me know the way I should go” (cf. v. 10; cf. also Ex. 18:20; Ps. 25:4–5 and comment). The expression “lift up my soul” is one of deep dependence and allegiance (cf. Pss. 24:4; 25:1).783

V. (143:9–12) Deliver Me, and Teach Me to Do Your Will. The prayer closes by repeating the request for deliverance (vv. 9, 11) and guidance (v. 10; cf. v. 8), expressing trust in a number of ways: “I have fled to you for refuge” (v. 9), “you are my God” (v. 10; cf. comment on 140:6–8), “I am your servant” (v. 12), and looking to God’s “steadfast love” (v. 12).

The appeal “for your name’s sake” (v. 11) means “For the sake of your good reputation,” particularly God’s reputation for faithfulness to his promises (righteousness is in parallel; cf. v. 1); the singer wants everyone else to know that those who have fled to God for refuge have a sure protection in him.