Commonplace –
“Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness” (Psalm 143:10).
Like Psalm 141 and Psalm 142, Psalm 143 begins with David asking God to hear his prayer, “Hear my prayer, O Lord” (Psalm 143:1). David’s heart is heavy, and his soul is downtrodden. Alone and despondent he reaches out to God, “Quicken me, O Lord, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble” (Psalm 143:11). In times of trouble, when faced with the limits of this finite world, our consolation is the reality of eternity. When we acknowledge the eternal in our time bound existence, we step outside our circumstances and put our troubles into perspective. Prayer is the ultimate act of revolution; it is choosing hope in the midst of despair. It is the belief that God actually can bring one’s soul out of trouble, even in the midst of it. In verse 10, David is asking God to infuse him with the will needed to choose right. He affirms God’s goodness and asks God to lead him in the path of uprightness. It is in this affirmation of God’s goodness that the first step on the path to goodness is taken.
“Preservations are pledges of salvation, and those shall find God their hiding-place who by faith make him such” (Henry 630).
Works Cited
Henry, Matthew. “Psalm 143.” Matthew Henry’s Commentary On the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition. Volume 3 and Volume 6, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., March 1996.
Holy Bible: Giant Print with Study Aids. Dugan Publishers, Inc., 1984.
© 2025 Angela Hormberg
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