III PSALM 142 (143) INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS
Orthodox Study Bible: “Psalm 143 (142 Septuagint). This
psalm is the last of the six psalms of Orthros. It is the song of one
afflicted, waiting in the darkness for the light. It is a prayer which
awaits the light of dawn (v. 8) – both physical and spiritual. Verse 10b
is used at Pentecost with the Septuagint rendering: ‘Let your good
Spirit lead me on a level path.’”
New American Bible – Roman Catholic: Psalm 143 is one
of the Church's seven Penitential Psalms, this lament is a prayer to be
freed from death-dealing enemies. The psalmist addresses God, aware that
there is no equality between God and humans; salvation is a gift (Psalm
143:1-2). Victimized by evil people (Psalm
143:3-4), the psalmist recites ("remembers") God's past actions on
behalf of the innocent (Psalm
143:5-6). The psalm continues with fervent prayer (Psalm
143:7-9) and a strong desire for guidance and protection (Psalm
143:10-12).
The New Bible Commentary: Revised (pp. 539-540) “Psalms
140-143 can be considered as a linked group: thay are alike in
portraying the reactions of the godly to trouble, each psalm showing a
different facet of it (as indicated by their titles in this commentary
(Psalm140-Slander; Psalm 141-Provocation; Psalm 142-Lonliness; Psalm
143-The Imminent End). Similarities of wording and thought connect them.
Most noticeably, they are all prayers, revealing the the first reaction
to trouble is to take it to the Lord.”
The New Bible Commentary: Revised (p. 541) “PSALM 143. THE
IMMINENT END. This brief series of ‘psalms in a time of trouble’ now
comes to its climax. The psalmist feels that he has reached
the limit of endurance: the enemy has metaphorically ‘entombed’ him (v.
3b)—how suitable to David’s experience in ‘the cave’ (psalm-title, Ps.
142; cf. 1 Sa. 23:1911)—but now the reality of death seems to
draw near (v. 7b); spirit and heart can stand no more buffeting (vv. 4,
7a); God’s mercies seem to belong entirely to the past (v. 5),
and there is no refreshing sign of His favor in the present (v. 6);
there is even the possibility that He too has adopted an attitude of
judgment (v. 2). Yet whatever else fails, the spirit of prayer blossoms.
The deeper the trouble the more deeply is refuge sought in God. At the
same time the wear and tear of prolonged stress is evident in the very
form of the psalm. Certainly it is a unity, and in one sense any
analysis mars its sustained appeal, but it also has a staccato quality,
seen in the eleven petitions in vv. 7—12, in which we enter into the
helpless urgency of the flight of this battered soul to his God.”
II PSALM 142 (Septuagint), 143 (Hebrew/English Versions)
[1] 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.
New Bible Commentary: “Verses 1, 2. Divine forbearance
Each section of this sustained prayer rests on a different
ground of appeal. The first of these is the nature of God: the
forbearance which looks favorably on the psalmist (v. 1) and which
forgoes the divine right of strict judgment (v. 2).
Verse 1-Supplications: specifically a plea for divine grace. Thus
the psalm opens on the note of absence of merit on the part of the
intercessor, coupled with the existence of grace for the undeserving in
the nature of God. Faithfulness . . . righteousness:
God’s undeviating pursuit of His own declared policies. In this verse,
following the line laid down by supplications, the reference is
to His purposes of grace and salvation for His people.
Verse 2-The possibility raised in Psalms. 140:8 and 141:4, that
God might be using the psalmist’s enemies to bring a merited punishment
upon him, is here faced in its basic form. God has every right to assume
the mantle of judge, and the psalmist does not deny that he too deserves
divine judgment. But if God so acts, then all hope is at an end.”
Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Verses 1, 2. People
May Fall From Grace
Saint Jerome. “People are called righteous
and said to be without fault; but that, if negligence comes over them,
they may fall. It is also clear that a person always occupies a middle
place, so that he may slip from the height of virtue into vice or may
rise from vice to virtue. He is never safe but must dread shipwreck even
in fair weather. Therefore, a person cannot be without sin. Solomon
says, ‘There is not a righteous person on earth that does good and sins
not (Ecclesiastes 7:20).’ Likewise in the book of Kings (2nd
Chronicles): ‘There is no one that sins not (2 Chronicles 6:36).’ So,
also the blessed David says, ‘Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me
from hidden faults, and keep back your servant from presumptuous sins
(Psalm 19:12-13).’ And again, ‘Enter not into judgment with your
servant, for in your sight shall no one living be justified.’ Holy
Scripture is full of passages to the same effect” (Against the
Pelagians 1:12) (pp. 401-402).
[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.
New Bible Commentary “Verses 3, 4 Personal exhaustion
The privilege of the people of God is that they may not only plead
divine saving grace (v. 1) against the divine right to judge (v. 2) but
that, such is the tender relation into which God has brought them with
Himself, they can frankly plead on the ground of personal need. The
picture here is of chase (v. 3a), capture as the hunter leaps upon the
prey (v. 3b), imprisonment (v. 3c), with ensuing hopelessness (v. 4).”
Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Verse 4 My Spirit
Faints Within Me. Do Not Make Public Your Inner Troubles.
St. Basil the Great. “Let that foe (an ungrateful person who
abuses and berates other people) of yours upbraid you, but do you not
upbraid him. Regard his words as a training ground in which to exercise
philosophy (the true Christian life). If you have not been pierced, you
are still unwounded, and, if your spirit suffers some injury, confine
the hurt within yourself; for the Psalmist says, ‘my heart within me is
troubled,” that is, he gave no outward expression of his feelings but
contained them, as a wave that breaks against the shore and subsides.
Quiet your heart, I beg you, when it howls and rages. Make your passions
honor your reason, as an unruly boy respects the presence of a venerable
man” (Homily 10) (p. 403).
[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.
New Bible Commentary “Verses 5,6 Spiritual Longing
Nevertheless, the truth abides that God ‘satisfies him who is
thirsty’ (Ps. 107:9), and it is this sense of longing for God which now
pervades and gives basis to the prayer. It finds expression in
remem-brance (v. 5) and mute appeal (v. 6). The fact ought to be
noticed, for it is characteristic of the psalmists, that in every plight
the chief desire was for God rather than for mere release from trouble;
see Psalms. 43:3, 4; 63:1-4.
Verse 5-I remember; see Psalms 42:4; 63:5-8; 77:5ff.
The call to remembrance is impressive in the Old Testament, and is
chiefly related to the encouragement drawn from recalling God’s deeds of
old (for example, Deuteronomy 1:29-33; 7:18; Nehemiah
4:14) and the consequent motive to obedience (for example,
Deuteronomy. 5:15; 8:2, 18).”
Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Verse 6 My Soul
Thirsts for God. The Soul Is Like Land Without Water.
St. Augustine. “Put two people together; one wants to go to
the show, the other to church. They are alike in body, but separated by
their desires. The first is like the salt water, the second appears as
dry land. How can we prove that this land is dry, which signifies people
desiring good things? The psalmist says to God, ‘My soul is like land
without water to you.’ My soul has thirsted for you; it is thirsty, it
is dry, it is separated from the waters of the sea. I must not bother
about not yet being separated in the body; its desire has already made
the separation. Some desire God, others desire the world” (Sermon
2298) (p. 403).
[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.
New Bible Commentary, “Verses 7, 8 Impending finality
Urgency governs the appeal: Haste . . ..fails . . . the Pit. .
. morning. The end of personal strength (v. 7a) yields to the
darkness of imminent death (v. 7b). He longs for news of God (v. 8a) and
a word from God (v. 8b).
Verse 7-Hide not . . . Pit. The reference here to
death (the Pit) is linked with the sense of the loss of divine
favor (the hidden face). Once more (see 6:4, 5;
30:9; 88:10, 11) it is not death as such which appears hopeless, but to
die without any light of divine favor.
Verse 8-Morning: the soon-coming time of light, following the
darkness of night (see Psalm. 30:5), therefore metaphorical for
hope. Teach me, Just as in vv. 5, 6 the longing was for
God Himself rather than for the bare end of the trouble, so here the end
of the apparent divine aloofness is desired, not because it will
automatically dispel the present difficulties, but more because it will
make possible a dedicated life of obedience.”
[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!
New Bible Commentary, “Verses 9, 10 Personal dedication
The personal and dedicated seeking after God which verse 8
introduced is now elaborated. Deliverance (verse 9a) will give him the
opportunity, teaching (v. 10a) will give the knowledge and ability, and
guidance by the Spirit (v. l0b) the actual experience of serving God
according to His will. The appeal therefore is for the chance to live
for God (as contrasted with the possibility of dying in His displeasure,
verses 7, 8), and the basis of the appeal is an exclusive seeking after
and devotion to God (verses 9b, 10a).”
Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Verse 10 Teach Me To
Do God’s Will. Pray for the Gift of the Holy Spirit.
Bede. “Let us entreat the help of the grace of this Spirit in
all our actions, dearly beloved. Let us all, individually and
collectively, say to the Lord, ‘Let your good Spirit lead me in the
right way.” And so it will come to pass that the one who came down on
the apostles and declared to them the things that were to come may
disclose also to our minds the joys of the life to come. May he kindly
set us on fire to seek these joys, with the cooperation of the one who
is accustomed both to promise and to give him to his faithful, Jesus
Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.” (Homilies on the
Gospels 2.11) (p. 404).
[11] For thy name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life! In thy righteousness
bring me out of trouble!
