Week 7 | Psalm 143 [142]
A Psalm of David.
143 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
give ear to my supplications!
In thy faithfulness answer me, in thy righteousness!
2 Enter not into judgment with thy servant;
for no man living is righteous before thee.
3 For the enemy has pursued me;
he has crushed my life to the ground;
he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is appalled.
5 I remember the days of old,
I meditate on all that thou hast done;
I muse on what thy hands have wrought.
6 I stretch out my hands to thee;
my soul thirsts for thee like a parched land. Selah
7 Make haste to answer me, O Lord!
My spirit fails!
Hide not thy face from me,
lest I be like those who go down to the Pit.
8 Let me hear in the morning of thy steadfast love,
for in thee I put my trust.
Teach me the way I should go,
for to thee I lift up my soul.
9 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies!
I have fled to thee for refuge!
10 Teach me to do thy will,
for thou art my God!
Let thy good spirit lead me
on a level path!
11 For thy name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
In thy righteousness bring me out of trouble!
12 And in thy steadfast love cut off my enemies,
and destroy all my adversaries,
for I am thy servant.
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Listen (Receive the Word via audio or video.)
Observe (Connect the passage to your life and recent events.)
Psalm 143 offers a clear example of the process of purification we explored in the previous Psalm, 130. The relationships within dysfunctional families, such as David’s, can be used by God to purify all the parties involved. For anyone who has experienced family betrayal, attack, or rebellion, this Psalm offers hope for God’s help.
How are the challenges in your own family meant to help purify you? Do you see your family relationships as invitations from God to learn something about yourself, God, and how to live in charity?
Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)
What do you want to say to Him about that? Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin.
Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)
Hear my prayer, O LORD! Amen +
What we discussed | Show Notes
Overview:
Minutes 00:12:00 – Context of the psalm; history of David’s son, Absalom and his betrayal
Minutes 12:01-24:00 – The original story of Nathan’s pronouncement of punishment on David’s sin with Bathsheba
Minutes 24:01-36:00 – Psalm 143
Minutes 36:01-48:00 – Reaping and sowing, purgatory, how to cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s working through family relationships
Other Resources
Create in Me a Clean Heart: 10 Minutes a Day with the Penitential Psalms, book by Sarah Christmyer
A “Spiritual Cleanse” with the Penitential Psalms
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