Text: Psalm 143
Hear my prayer, O Lord, Give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, And in Your righteousness. Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, For in Your sight no one living is righteous. For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in darkness, Like those who have long been dead. Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is distressed. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands. I spread out my hands to You; My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah Answer me speedily, O Lord; My spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, Lest I be like those who go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You. Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; In You I take shelter. Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness. Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake! For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble. In Your mercy cut off my enemies, And destroy all those who afflict my soul; For I am Your servant.
Devotion
“You are my God, I am Your servant.” This is the basis on which the oppressed and lamenting psalmist builds his hope. “I am a sinner, that’s why all this trouble comes over me, but You must have mercy on me, as You usually do toward all Your people. No one is righteous before You, yet You have always helped Your servants. I remember this both from my own experience and that of others. My enemies deal unjustly and persecute me to satisfy their wickedness. You cannot permit this, my God of righteousness! In You I take shelter. Deliver me for Your name’s sake!” Great humility and confidence of faith meets us from the depth of the psalmist’s soul.
When you are in trouble, then cry to the Lord in the same way, and He shall hear you for His truth’s sake, for the sake of His righteousness. “O Lord Jesus,” says the suffering Christian soul, “have mercy on me and help me. I indeed belong to You, most gracious God and Savior. I am a poor and miserable sinner, completely corrupt, unfit for all good, deserving of wrath and punishment, so that You could cast me off forever. But still You have loved me and purchased me with Your own blood, baptized me and called me and appointed me for salvation. I am Yours, and all I have belongs to You. You have taken us into Your house, and we have taken shelter with You. But Lord, now my soul is like a thirsty land. Do not hide Your face from me. Revive me, and keep me alive for Your name’s sake! You have promised to save me when I call upon You. Hear me for Your truth’s sake, and do not let me go. All is well if only You are gracious to me, and You are indeed also my Savior and I am Your servant.”
It is the true character of God’s children that the more they are afflicted, the more they long for the Lord. Others are embittered, hardened, or they despair. There is no meekness where there is no confidence in God, and there is no heartfelt longing for Him. But among the meek souls, the true believers, desire for God’s love grows during tribulation.
Stretch forth your hands to Him. Tell Him that your soul longs for Him and cannot let Him go. Hold on to His promises of grace. He has never rejected anyone who did this. All God’s promises are “Yes and Amen in Christ Jesus” (2Co 1:20).
Closing Prayer
Lord, grant us humility and childlike confidence. With temptation also make a way of escape, so that we may bear it (1Co 10:13). Give us victory to the glory of Your name! Amen.
Hymn
Then be the world my foe or friend,
Keep me to her a stranger,
Thy steadfast soldier to the end,
Through pleasure and through danger;
From Thee alone comes such high grace,
No works of ours obtain it,
Or can gain it;
Our pride hath here no place,
‘Tis Thy free promise we embrace.
Help me, for I am weak; I fight,
Yet scarce can battle longer;
I cling but to Thy grace and might,
‘Tis Thou must make me stronger;
When sore temptations are my lot,
And tempests round me lower,
Break their power;
So through deliv’rance wrought,
I know that Thou forsak’st me not!
Agricola: Lord, hear the voice of my complaint L 210:4-5 ELH 255:4-5 tr. C. Winkworth;
tune: Ich ruf zu dir