Psalm-143
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Remember the following two
truth’s from our beloved Scriptures!
“Ye
shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2.
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With
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction to Tehillim - Psalm 143
Psalm 143 is one of the ‘Penitential Psalms’, a heartfelt plea from David during a time of great exhaustion and distress. While Psalm 139 spoke of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s constant presence, Psalm 143 speaks to the moment when we feel hidden or overwhelmed. It is the prayer of a servant who realizes he cannot stand on his own merit, but must rely entirely on אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s ‘faithfulness’ and ‘righteousness’.
Tehillim - Psalm 143: (JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).
1. “A Psalm of
David.
O יְהוָה - LORD, hear my prayer,
give ear to my supplications; in Thy faithfulness answer me, and in Thy
righteousness.
2. And enter not into judgment with Thy servant; for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified.
3. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath crushed my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
4. And my spirit fainteth within me; my heart within me is appalled.
5. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Thy doing; I muse on the work of Thy hands.
6. I spread forth my hands unto Thee; my soul (thirsteth) after Thee, as a weary land. Selah.
7. Answer me speedily, O יְהוָה - LORD, my spirit faileth; hide not Thy face from me; lest I become like them that go down into the pit.
8. Cause me to hear Thy loving-kindness in the morning, for in Thee do I trust; cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for unto Thee have I lifted up my soul.
9. Deliver me from mine enemies, O יְהוָה -LORD; with Thee have I hidden myself.
10. Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my אֱלֹהִים - Elohim; let Thy good spirit lead me in an even land.
11. For Thy name's sake, O יְהוָה - LORD, quicken me; in Thy righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.
12. And in Thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that harass my soul; for I am Thy servant”.
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Let us look at the Verse-by-Verse Explanation:
First is the verse, followed by a
comment.
1. ‘O יְהוָה - LORD, hear my prayer, give ear to my supplications; in Thy faithfulness answer me, and in Thy righteousness.
David does not ask to be answered because he
is perfect, but because אֱלֹהִים - Elohim
is faithful. He appeals to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s
own character.
2. And enter not into judgment with Thy servant; for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified.
This is a verse of great humility. David
acknowledges that no human is perfect. It is a relief to know we don’t have to
be "justified" by our own strength; we rely on אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s
grace.
3. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath crushed my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
David describes a feeling of being ‘crushed’ and ‘in darkness’. For anyone facing illness, ‘the enemy’ can be the pain or the isolation. David’s words give voice to that heavy feeling.
4. And my spirit fainteth within me; my heart within me is appalled.
When the body is weary, the spirit often follows. David admits his heart is overwhelmed. You are not alone in feeling this; even the Great King felt his spirit fail.
5. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Thy doing; I muse on the work of Thy hands.
This is the turning point. When the present is hard, David looks back. He "muses" (thinks deeply) on how אֱלֹהִים - Elohim has helped him in the past. This memory becomes his strength.
6. I spread forth my hands unto Thee; my soul (thirsteth) after Thee, as a weary land. Selah.
A beautiful image: David’s soul is like dry, cracked earth waiting for rain. He reaches out his hands in a gesture of total dependence.
7. Answer me speedily, O יְהוָה - LORD, my spirit faileth; hide not Thy face from me; lest I become like them that go down into the pit.
The prayer becomes urgent. He is asking for a ‘speedy’ sense of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s presence because his own strength is gone.
8. Cause me to hear Thy loving-kindness in the morning, for in Thee do I trust; cause me to know the way wherein I should walk, for unto Thee have I lifted up my soul.
This is a perfect morning prayer. Even if you cannot move, you ask אֱלֹהִים - Elohim to show you ‘the way’ for your soul to walk that day, a path of internal peace.
9. Deliver me from mine enemies, O יְהוָה - LORD; with Thee have I hidden myself.
Instead of running away, David ‘hides’ himself in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim. אֱלֹהִים becomes the shelter around his life.
10. Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my אֱלֹהִים - Elohim; let Thy good spirit lead me in an even land.
An ‘even land’ is a level place where one does not stumble. He asks for the ‘Good Spirit’ to lead him through the difficult terrain of his illness.
11. For Thy Name’s sake, O יְהוָה - LORD, quicken me; in Thy righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.
To ‘quicken’ is to give new life. David asks for a revival of his soul, not for his own glory, but for אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Name.
12. And in Thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that harass my soul; for I am Thy servant.
He ends with a plea for the removal of everything that ‘harasses’ his soul, ‘fears’, ‘pains’, or ‘doubts’ placing himself firmly in the position of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s protected servant.
Closing Message:
In Verse 8, David says, ‘Unto Thee have I lifted up my soul’ Even if you cannot lift your head or your hands, your soul can
be lifted up to the Almighty.
This Psalm acknowledges that life can feel like ‘darkness’ (v. 3), but it ends with the request to be led by the ‘Good Spirit’. May that Spirit lead you today into an ‘even land’, a place of ‘mental’ and ‘spiritual rest’. We are all His servant, and as David reminds us, that means we have a claim to His mercy! May His loving-kindness’ be very real to you today.
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This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem;
walk in My statutes, and keep Mine
ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign
between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem”.
Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).
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follows;
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More Life”
For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,
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is the one who gave us our Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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