A prayer of the Righteous One, when feeling the heat of the weary land 

This may have been written at the same time as the two previous psalms. Again, David mentions that his spirit is overwhelmed, and his only recourse was to remember, meditate and consequently stretch forth his hands to God. There was a soul-thirst that only God could meet. 

His urgency is especially noted by his supplications in vv. 7-11, hear me; cause me; deliver me; hide me; teach me; lead me and quicken me. When trouble becomes personal, then one’s prayer gets very personal. The grounds of David’s prayer rested not in any qualification in himself, but even though he be king, he saw that he was but the Lord’s servant: a role of submission and service. So also our Lord was God’s servant, whom He upheld, and His elect in whom He delighted.

Psalm 143 - First Version

 1  Lord, hear my pray'r, attend my suits;
       and in thy faithfulness
    Give thou an answer unto me,
       and in thy righteousness.

 2  Thy servant also bring thou not
       in judgment to be tried:
    Because no living man can be
       in thy sight justified.

 3  For th' en'my hath pursued my soul,
       my life to ground down tread:
    In darkness he hath made me dwell,
       as who have long been dead.

 4  My sp'rit is therefore overwhelmed
       in me perplexedly;
    Within me is my very heart
       amazed wondrously.

 5  I call to mind the days of old,
       to meditate I use
    On all thy works; upon the deeds
       I of thy hands do muse.

 6  My hands to thee I stretch; my soul
       thirsts, as dry land, for thee.
 7  Haste, Lord, to hear, my spirit fails:
       hide not thy face from me;

    Lest like to them I do become
       that go down to the dust.
 8  At morn let me thy kindness hear;
       for in thee do I trust.

    Teach me the way that I should walk:
       I lift my soul to thee.
 9  Lord, free me from my foes; I flee
       to thee to cover me.

10  Because thou art my God, to do
       thy will do me instruct:
    Thy Sp'rit is good, me to the land
       of uprightness conduct.

11  Revive and quicken me, O Lord,
       ev'n for thine own name's sake;
    And do thou, for thy righteousness,
       my soul from trouble take.

12  And of thy mercy slay my foes;
       let all destroyed be
    That do afflict my soul: for I
       a servant am to thee.


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