Year 8, Day 280: Psalm 143

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Psalm 143, like most psalms of David, give us a great glimpse into the life of the human being.  David is a great case study because he seldom felt the need to have a façade.  His life is borne out – for the good and the bad – in his psalms.  There are several great points to highlight.

First, look at where David is.  He begins and ends with his humanity.  He is in a rough spot in life.  He is being persecuted.  He feels like there are traps all around him.  He has been crushed and has been made to feel like he is dead.  There is no shame in admitting one’s place in life.  In fact, the road to healing usually begins with admitting one’s reality.

Second, I love what David does with this knowledge.  David admits that his circumstance hasn’t exactly made him into the best representative of God’s ways.  David specifically asks not to be judged.  He doesn’t want to be judged because he knows what the verdict would be!  I love that David is willing to admit the connection between his circumstances and his attitude.  Bad circumstances typically make for a bad attitude.

Third, David takes this realization and goes forward into a place of health.  If He his circumstances are making it hard to be in God’s ways, He needs to be retaught.  He asks God to teach him again.  He asks God to lead him.  He does not allow the depth of his current situation to stop him from seeing what his reality could be.

Finally, I love that in the end the focus is upon God.  Life is for the Lord’s sake.  Life is a demonstration of the Lord’s love.  We are ultimately His servants, not the other way around.

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