Psalm 143 (142):9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Observe how the supplicant presents arguments in every plea: "Do not hide Your face from me," he implores, "for I have placed my trust in You; reveal to me, O Lord, the path, for it is to You that my soul has turned. Deliver me from my adversaries," for "I have taken refuge in You; I seek to fulfill Your will, for You are my God. May Your good Spirit guide me to the realm of righteousness."

The title of this Psalm is, "To David himself, when his son pursued him." From the account in the Book of Kings (2 Samuel 15), we see that this indeed occurred. However, we must also acknowledge another David, truly powerful, which refers to our Lord Jesus Christ. All prior occurrences were foreshadows of future realities. Let us therefore seek our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ within this psalm, as He reveals Himself through prophecy and foretells what is happening in the present, echoing events long ago. He foretold His own coming through the prophets: for He is the Word of God. They spoke only when filled with the Word of God, proclaiming Christ, and going before the One who was to come, who did not abandon those who went before Him.

Let our Lord speak; let the entirety of Christ communicate with us. "Lord, hear my prayer; give ear to my supplication" (Psalm 142:1). To hear and to give ear are synonymous—a repetition that confirms. "In Your faithfulness answer me; in Your righteousness" (Psalm 142:1). Pay special attention to this as it speaks of Your righteousness. It must be noted that it is by grace that none among us dares to claim righteousness as our own. This is the righteousness of God, which He has graciously given us to possess. What does the apostle declare concerning those who boast of their righteousness? He remarks that, concerning the Jews, they possess a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge (Romans 10:2). You are corrupt because you attribute your evil deeds to God, while claiming goodness for yourselves; true alignment comes when you acknowledge your own wrongdoings and attribute what is good to God. Thus, let me implore, "In Your righteousness, hear me," for when I examine myself, I find only sin.

"Do not enter into judgment with Your servant" (Psalm 142:2). Who among us dares to stand in judgment before Him but those who, unaware of the righteousness of God, attempt to uphold their own? "Why have we fasted and You have not seen? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You take no knowledge?" (Isaiah 58:3). It is as if they claim, "We have obeyed Your commands; why have You not rewarded us?" Yet God answers, "I have given you what you need to earn the reward I promised." The Prophet poses the question: "Why do you contend with Me? Everyone has sinned against Me" (Jeremiah 2:29). "Why do you seek judgment with Me, listing your righteous deeds?" For before You, no living person can be justified. Everyone alive—those living in the flesh and anticipating death—born of man, tracing their lineage back to the living Adam—may overlook their faults before themselves but will not find justification before You. They may claim righteousness to satisfy themselves rather than You. "Do not enter into judgment with me, O Lord my God." Though I may seem upright in my own eyes, You measure me against Your standard, revealing my shortcomings. It is unworthy of You to judge Your servant or even a friend (Matthew 5:40). Consider even the Apostles: they learned to pray the prayers we use today; they received a model of prayer from the heavenly Counselor who teaches us, "This is how you should pray" (Matthew 6:9). After expressing certain requests, they were also instructed to say, "Forgive us our debts" (Matthew 6:12). They did not assert, "Thank You for forgiving us our debts as we forgive our debtors," but rather, "Forgive us, just as we forgive our debtors." The faithful prayed earnestly at that time, as the Apostles also did, for this Lord's Prayer was intended for the faithful. If it referred solely to the forgiveness provided by Baptism, it would have been better to state, "Forgive us our debts." They would rightly say, "Forgive us our debts." And when questioned, "Why do you say that? What are your debts?" they should respond, "For not every living soul before You shall be justified."

"For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has humbled my life to the ground" (Psalm 142:3). Here, we find our voice, our Head speaking on our behalf. Indeed, the devil pursued the soul of Christ through Judas, and he continues to persecute the Body of Christ, with one betrayer succeeding another. Hence, there is no shortage of those who can echo, "For the enemy pursues my soul." What does every persecutor seek, if not to drive us away from our heavenly hope and entrap us in worldly desires, to yield to our oppressor and cling to earthly things? They have placed me in dark places like one forgotten by the world. This may be better understood in relation to our Head. He truly died for us, yet He was not among the dead of the world. Who are these dead of the world? How is He not among them? The dead of this world are those who died without hope, receiving the due penalty for their iniquities, having succumbed to the mortality passed down from Adam, who is described, "For I was born in iniquity…" In His death, He states, "I fulfill the will of My Father, yet I do not deserve death. I have not transgressed to deserve this fate, rather it is I who offered My life so that, through the death of the innocent, those with sins would be freed." Place me in darkness, as it were in Hades, in the tomb, or in His Passion.

"My spirit is overwhelmed within me" (Psalm 142:4). Remember that My soul was distressed even unto death (Matthew 26:38). Here we observe a singular voice, the transition we recognize between the Head and the members, and from the members back to the Head. We have all experienced this too. "I remember the days of old" (Psalm 142:5). Did He remind us of those earlier times to underscore the creation of each day? No, but the body reflects: "Anyone justified by Your grace, remaining in love and humility before You, announces, 'I think of all Your works,' recognizing that You have created everything good; nothing could have stood without Your establishment. Your creation astounds me; I seek the Creator visible in the work of the Master, in all that is created. For what is the purpose of creation but to show that all good within me is wrought by Him?" Seek then the Creator of your life, the Author of your existence, your righteousness, and your salvation; contemplate the works of His hands. Even the righteousness present within you belongs to His hand. Note how the apostle instructs us: it is "not by works, so that no one may boast." Do we lack good works? No, we have them, but note the continuation: "For we are His creation," as noted in Ephesians 2:9-10. He refers to the works we perform; therefore, let us not argue, rather continue with the text. "We are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works." Do not presume you do anything without the grace of God. "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12-13). If we are to work towards salvation, why should we do so with fear and trembling? Because it is God who works within you, both to will and to act according to His good pleasure. Hence, engage with reverence, so that it may please our Creator to work in this humble valley.

"I have extended my hands to you; my soul thirsts for You like a weary land" (Psalm 142:6). Rain upon me, He implores, that I may produce good fruit. For the Lord will provide sweetness, allowing our land to yield its harvest. "I stretch my hands toward You; my soul is parched, not for myself, but for You. I can crave Your presence, but I cannot fulfill my thirst without Your sustenance."

"Answer me quickly, O Lord" (Psalm 142:7). Why delay in quenching my thirst when I am already parched? You have put off the rain so that I might drink and absorb, not turn away from Your gifts. Thus, if this is the reason for Your wait, grant me thirst relief, for my spirit has failed me. Let Your Spirit fill me instead. This is why You ought to respond promptly. "I am already poor in spirit; bless me in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). That one in whom Your Spirit dwells is filled with pride, raising against God a spirit of arrogance.

"Do not hide Your face from me" (Psalm 142:8). You turned away when I was proud. In times of abundance, I grew conceited. Once I boasted, “I shall never be shaken," unaware of Your righteousness as I relied on my own; yet You, Lord, in alignment with Your Will, granted strength to my pride. I claimed: "I will not be shaken," but it was from You that my fullness came. To demonstrate this truth, You hid Your countenance from me, and I became troubled. Following the calamity of being forsaken, after my spirit grew weary, following my distress because You withdrew Your face, I found myself like barren land: do not hide Your face. Thou didst avert Thy face from me when I was prideful; restore it now that I am humbled. For if You turn away from me, I shall fall like those who descend into the grave. What does it mean to fall into the pit? When a sinner plunges into sin's depths, he loses even the confession of wrongs; thus it is said: "Let not the pit close its mouth against me." Often Scripture refers to this depth as the pit, whereupon entering, a sinner displays contempt. What does it mean to show contempt? A disregard for Providence; even if he acknowledges it, he believes it does not pertain to him.

"Let me hear of Your kindness in the morning, for in You I have placed my trust" (Psalm 142:9). Behold, though I dwell in darkness, I trust in You until the wrong of the night vanishes. As Peter states, we indeed possess a more sure prophetic word: "You will do well to heed it, as a light shining in a dark place until the day breaks and the dawn star rises in your hearts." When morning comes, it will be a time post the end of the world, when we will see the fulfillment of what we have believed in while in this life. What remains to be done before the morning arrives? Merely hoping for the sunrise is not sufficient; we must take action. Why? It is necessary to seek God during the night with our hands. What are hands? They represent good deeds. Hence, while we await the morning and endure this night, we must persevere through patience. How are we to operate in the interim? Do not presume to accomplish anything on your own; it is Him who brings you to the dawn. "Show me, O Lord, the path I should follow." It is for this reason He illuminated the path of prophecy; He sent the Lord within flesh, who would declare, "My strength is parched like a shard." Follow the prophecy; walk in the light of the foreseen future; take stride according to the Word of God.

"Deliver me from my adversaries, O Lord; for I take refuge in You" (Psalm 142:10). Although I once fled from You, I now run to You. Adam fled from God's countenance, hiding among the trees of paradise, as noted in Job, "Like a servant fleeing from his Lord who finds shelter." He ran away from the face of his Lord, seeking a shadow. Woe unto him if he remains in the shadow, lest it be said later, "All has vanished like a fleeting shadow" (Wisdom 5:9). Great are the rulers of this world, the leaders of darkness, the wicked; against them, you strive. Your struggle is immense, that you may not see your foes yet triumph over them. This darkness refers to the devil and his angels—not the rulers of this world who the world was created by, rather the world that did not recognize Him (John 1:10). "To You I flee."

"Teach me to perform Your will, for You are my God" (Psalm 142:11). A remarkable declaration! A splendid proclamation! For You, He acknowledges, are my God. To another I might rush to be remade, but since I was formed by none other than You, You are my everything. Should I seek my father for an inheritance? You are my God—not merely the Giver of my inheritance but my inheritance itself. God forms part of my legacy. Should I seek a benefactor for redemption? You are my God. Ultimately, having been crafted, do I long for rebirth? You are my God, my Creator, who fashioned me by His Word and rehabilitated me through His Word. Teach me, for it is incompatible that You are my God and that I should be my own master. Observe how grace is lauded before us. This is what you value and embrace, that no one may dislodge it from your hearts, so that you might have godly zeal, but not according to knowledge (Romans 10:2).

Rescue me from my foes, O Lord; to You I turn. Teach me to carry out Your will, for You are my God. He did not simply say: teach me Your will, but as Chrysostom has pointed out, teach me to fulfill Your will; for blessed is the one who not only understands the will of God, but who actively follows it. While knowing the will of God may come easily, acting upon it is far more challenging; hence, as Eusebius indicates, divine instruction and assistance are essential. Theodoret expressed a similar sentiment: I ask that I may not only understand what brings You joy, but also engage in what pleases You, for I recognize that You are my God and Sovereign. May Your good Spirit lead me on the path of righteousness.

In this moment, David again implores God to manifest His mercy. Though the initial thoughts may not be clearly articulated within his own mind, the essence of God's goodness is often experienced more deeply than it is verbally expressed. Yet, since awareness of God's favor holds little value without faith, David appropriately begins with his attentive listening. The term ‘morning’ conveys a sense of timeliness, indicating that hope is presented to God as an act of pleasing Him. God desires nothing more than for us to continually turn our gaze toward Him, regardless of our inability to offer any merits; our hope itself serves merely as an acknowledgment of our shortcomings.

The title of this psalm indicates that David composed it during the time of Absalom's rebellion. In this context, the afflicted psalmist appeals to the faithfulness of God's promises and truth, seeking divine assistance (v.1). Logically, if God were to respond solely based on strict justice, He would not grant aid to the psalmist, as all humans are sinful and deserving of judgment. Thus, the psalmist implores that God refrain from meting out punishment in accordance with such strict justice and from bringing His servant into condemnation. The one who calls out is in grave peril, leading to profound sorrow (vv.2-4). He finds himself humbled to the dust, brought low to the brink of the grave.