Posted by Psalms on Saturday, 23 January 2016
Psalms 143:1
A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
143:1. Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications. In the preceding psalm he began by declaring that he had cried unto the Lord; here he begs to be favorably regarded by Jehovah, whose memorial is that he heareth prayer. He knew that Jehovah did hear prayer, and therefore he intreated him to hear his supplication, however feeble and broken it might be. In two forms he implores the one blessing of gracious audience: hear and give ear. Gracious people are so eager to be heard in prayer that they double their intreaties for that boon. The psalmist desires to be heard and to be considered; hence he cries, hear, and then give ear. Our case is difficult, and we plead for special attention. It is probable that David wished his suit against his adversaries to be heard by the righteous Judge, confident that if he had a hearing in the matter whereof he was slanderously accused, he would be triumphantly acquitted. Yet he prefers to turn it all into a petition??? hence he cries rather hear my prayer than hear my suit. Indeed David is especially earnest that he himself, and the whole of his life, may not become the subject of trial, for in that event he could not hope for acquital. Observe that he offered so much pleading that his life became one continual prayer; but that petitioning was so varied in form that it broke out in many supplications.
In thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. Saints desire to be answered as well as heard: they long to find the Lord faithful to his promise and righteous in defending the cause of justice. It is a happy thing when we dare appeal even to righteousness for our deliverance; and thus we can do upon Gospel principles, for “if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” Even the sterner attributes of God are upon the side of the one who humbly trusts, and turns his trust into prayer. It is a sign of our safety when our interests and those of righteousness are blended. With God’s faithfulness and righteousness upon our side we are guarded on the right hand and on the left. These are active attributes, and fully equal to the answering of any prayer which it would be right to answer. Requests which do not appeal to either of these attributes it would not be for the glory of God to hear, for they must contain desires for things unpromised, and unrighteous.
Excerpt from:
The Treasury of David by Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)
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