Psalms 143:3

For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. FOR THE ENEMY HATH PERSECUTED MY SOUL. "For" introduces the reason urged for granting his request-namely, the violence of the godless enemy, which must bring God to the sufferer's side, in spite of the many shortcomings of the latter. The Psalmist has presented no such bar to his deliverance as that mentioned in Psalms 7:4. HE HATH MADE ME TO DWELL IN DARKNESS, AS THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN LONG DEAD - (Lamentations 3:6; Psalms 7:5, end; 88:6.) Hengstenberg translates, 'in dark places,' and 'like one...

3._For the enemy hath persecuted my soul_. Having acknowledged that he only suffered the just punishment of his sins, David comes now to speak of his enemies; for to have begun by speaking of them would have been a preposterous order. Their cruelty was shown in their not resting satisfied but with the destruction of one who was a saint of God; he declares that he must even now perish unless God should help him speedily. The comparison is not merely to a dead man, but a putrid corpse; for by _the dead of an age _(250) are meant those who have been long removed from the world. Such language intimates that he not only trusted in God as he who could heal him of a deadly disease, but considered that though his life should be buried, as it were, and long out of mind, God could raise it again, and restore his very ashes....

1-6 We have no righteousness of our own to plead, therefore must plead God's righteousness, and the word of promise which he has freely given us, and caused us to hope in. David, before he prays for the removal of his trouble, prays for the pardon of his sin, and depends upon mercy alone for it. He bemoans the weight upon his mind from outward troubles. But he looks back, and remembers God's former appearance for his afflicted people, and for him in particular. He looks round, and notices the works of God. The more we consider the power of God, the less we shall fear the face or force of man. He looks up with earnest desires towards God and his favour. This is the best course we can take, when our spirits are overwhelmed. The believer will not forget, that in his best actions he is a sinner. Meditation and prayer will recover us from distresses; and then the mourning soul strives to ret...

Verse Psalms 143:3. _HE HATH MADE ME TO DWELL IN DARKNESS_] Literally, _in_ _dark places_. This may be understood of David's taking refuge in _caves_ and _dens_ of the earth, to escape from his persecuting son; yea, even to take refuge in the _tombs_, or _repositories_ of the dead....

FOR THE ENEMY HATH PERSECUTED MY SOUL - Has persecuted me; has sought my life. HE HATH SMITTEN MY LIFE DOWN TO THE GROUND - He has, as it were, trampled me down to the earth. The word rendered “smitten” means to break in pieces, to beat small, to crush. See Psalms 72:4; Psalms 89:10; Job 6:9. His very life seemed to be crushed out as one that is trodden down to the ground. HE HATH MADE ME TO DWELL IN DARKNESS - He has made my life like that of one who dwells in darkness; he has made it a life of sorrow, so that I have no comfort - no light. AS THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN LONG DEAD - A

EXPOSITION ALMOST entirely a psalm of supplication, partly general (Psalms 143:1, Psalms 143:7), partly special (Psalms 143:2, Psalms 143:8). Psalms 143:3, however, give the grounds upon which the supplications are made; Psalms 143:3, Psalms 143:4 describing the psalmist's wretched condition; and...

FOR THE ENEMY HATH PERSECUTED MY SOUL,.... Which is to be connected with Psalms 143:1; and is a reason why he desires his prayer might be answered, seeing his enemy, either Saul, or Absalom his own son, persecuted him, or pursued him in order to take away his soul, or life; or Satan, the enemy and avenger, who goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; or persecuting men, who are his emissaries and instruments, whom he instigates to persecute the Lord's people, and employs them therein; HE HATH SMITTEN MY LIFE DOWN TO THE GROUND: brought him into a low, mean, and abject state, and near to death; had with a blow struck him to the ground, and left him wallowing in the mire and dirt, just ready to expire. The phrase is expressive of a very distressing state and condition. Some render it "my company" r; meaning the men that were with him, his soldiers, who we

Psalms 143:1. _Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified._ That is, of course, apart from the wondrous system of justification by faith in Jesus Christ, whereby believers are made the righteousness of God in him. Apart from that righteousness, no man living can be justified in the sight of God. Psalms 143:3. _For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate._ Are any of you passing through this trying experience? If s

PSALM 143-145 In Psalms 143:1 the enemy is mentioned again, the enemy who pursued David. “For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has smitten my life down to the ground; he has made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have long been dead.” How this again reminds us of the death experience of the pious remnant when the man of sin, the Antichrist will rule in Israel's land. Prayer for deliverance follows. Hear me speedily--Hide not Thy face from me--Cause me to hear Thy lovingkindness--Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies, I flee unto Thee to hide me! The next Psalm riseth higher. Faith lays hold on God. Israel, as David did, will look in faith to Him who has the power to deliver His trusting ones. “My Goodness, and my Fortress; my high tower and my deliverer; my shield and He in whom I trust; who subdueth the peoples under me” (literal translation). They acknowledge before

CXLIII. There is no internal argument to justify the LXX title, A Ps. of [or by] David when his son persecuted him. On the contrary, it contains reminiscences of other and those late Psalms 143:3_ b_ is borrowed from Lamentations 3:6, for clearly the author of the latter passage is more vigorous and original than the author of the Ps. The theme is an ordinary one. The Psalmist prays for deliverance from his foes, who have brought him to death's door, and imprecates vengeance upon them. But we should notice one or two points important for religious history. The righteousness of God here and in other writers later than Deuteronomy is equivalent to faithfulness, and especially the fidelity with which God delivers and guides His people (_cf._...