Psalm 143
WE are still looking at the condition of the believers in Israel shortly before the Lord Jesus as their Messiah will appear to deliver them. The psalmist addresses God upon the ground of His faithfulness, not His mercy. In truth the faithfulness of God is called for—His ancient promise to Abraham shall yet be carried out, when Israel has no right to claim mercy, so dreadful their sins against Him. "He is faithful that promised," as says Hebrews 10:2323Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (Hebrews 10:23).
In verse 2, God cannot be met as a judge. How can man be justified in His sight? Never, in his own person, but Acts 13:38, 3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39) gives the secret now that Christ has died and is risen again, and exalted to the highest heaven. Such knowledge will not be possessed at this time by the quickened children of Israel, however.
All hope, apart from God's coming in, in some way to effect deliverance, is gone (verses 3-6). Earthly enemies will have driven these saints to despair as these verses show, yet God is remembered when of old He acted in power. In His perfect wisdom, and perfect love, He lets His people suffer, that they may find in Him all their resource, their comfort, their joy, their hope, their everlasting portion with His Son.
Confidence that all will be well is most marked in verses 8 and 10; the desire is to learn the way in which the believer should walk, and to learn what pleases Him. This, Hebrews 12:1111Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:11) lets us know, is the fruit of an exercised heart. The soul that rebels under trial misses the purposed blessing.
The enemies spoken of in verses 3, 9 and 12 are the unbelievers of the coming day who will hate those God-fearing Israelites who profess His name in truth, and wait for redemption. The day of God's long suffering will be over, and the wicked will be quickly punished. In that day the language of verse 12 will be quite suitable (see Rev. 6:1010And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? (Revelation 6:10)), though quite contrary to the spirit of the Christian taught of God. Romans 12:1414Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. (Romans 12:14); Colossians 4:5, 65Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. 6Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. (Colossians 4:5‑6); 1 Thessalonians 5:15,15See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. (1 Thessalonians 5:15) and many other passages combine to show how Christians should feel and act toward those who would injure them.
Messages of God’s Love 2/14/1932