Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryPsalms 143

In thy righteousness. The psalmist appeals to God’s essential goodness and justice, in which he has unquestioning confidence.

In thy sight. Although the Scriptures frequently call men “righteous” (see Gen. 18:23, 24; etc.), the psalmist recognizes that in the absolute sense, when compared with God, no man is righteous (see Job 9:2). Man can obtain the righteousness of Christ only through faith. Human effort can never make a man righteous (Eph. 2:8, 9). Works are the fruit of faith; they are not the root of faith. Faith comes first, and where there is true faith works are sure to follow.

My heart. The apparently hopeless situation in which the psalmist found himself numbed his heart. A feeling of terrible loneliness took possession of his soul.

I remember. Such remembrance can bring both sadness and hope. The psalmist was sad because the present was not like the past. As he remembered the former manifestations of God’s power, his heart was encouraged in the hope that the Lord would again answer his prayer. He made bold to continue his request.

As a thirsty land. As the land during a long period of drought opens in yawning cracks, as if parting its lips in mute pleadings for water to quench its thirst, so the psalmist longed for the showers of heaven to water his soul. Selah. See on p. 629.

Hear me speedily. See on Ps. 69:17. My spirit faileth. See Ps. 84:2. Hide not thy face. See Ps. 4:6; 13:1. Pit. See on Ps. 28:1.

In the morning. See on Ps. 90:14. The psalmist hoped that the morning would end his grief. As the light of dawn dispels the darkness, so he asks that the light of God’s presence shall banish the darkness from his soul. How fitting is the early morning for devotion, for meditation on the loving-kindness of the Lord! Cause me to know. See on Ps. 25:4.

Deliver me. See on Ps. 59:1. I flee unto thee to hide me. Literally, “unto thee I have hidden.” God is a hiding place when the storms of life are raging and about to overwhelm (see Ps. 46:1).

For thy name’s sake. See on Ps. 31:3. The psalmist falls back upon the holy name as a reason why the Lord should hear his request.