Psalms 143:1-12 (NLT)
1 A psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.
2 Don’t put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you.
3 My enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave.
4 I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear.
5 I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.
6 I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. Interlude
7 Come quickly, LORD, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die.
8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, LORD; I run to you to hide me.
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.
11 For the glory of your name, O LORD, preserve my life. Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.
12 In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies and destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.
From the pit of despair, when peril appeared to be imminent, there was, for David, a redirection from the impending doom, to the One who would save Him. Though not ignoring the obvious threats against his life, David intentionally set his focus on his Hope, with a humble request for direction to the solution.
Turmoil and tempest are realities that come with life on earth, but there is another reality to which we can turn that will silence the enemies and destroy the foes. For the servants of the Most High, there is an alternative to being overwhelmed in the heart-felt prayer lifted to the Giver of Life. The mention of the circumstance need not be the central focus, but in the glory of the Greater One it will become dim and even obsolete. It’s in the unfailing love of the Father, that the one who lives to serve finds refuge.