A Closer Walk
In Psalm 143, ancient Israelite King David calls out to God. “{A Psalm of David.} 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. 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,” Psalm 143:1-4 KJV. David's spirit is overwhelmed within him he tells us. Why? Because the enemy has persecuted his soul. And has smitten his life down to the ground. David's spirit is so smitten and overwhelmed that his heart seems desolate. WOW! Anybody feel for him? Identify with him?
David does not tell us who the enemy is. We know that King Saul chased after him in order to kill him and this went on for years. But to David's credit he seeks out the Lord God and pours out his heart to Him. David asks God to, “Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.. ..” Clearly David knows who he is talking to and that the Lord has the ability to help him in his situation. He requests that God give ear to his supplications. Supplication is a type of prayer and its use recognizes the existence of a Supplicator: someone who has the power to intervene and help the person making the supplication. David remembers God's faithfulness to him and asks Him to answer David's prayer. Not because of his need, but because of God's faithfulness. And because of God's righteousness also.
“It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we endure, we shall also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself,” 2 Timothy 2:11-13 NASB. Remembering our God's faithfulness can be helpful to us as well. God will be faithful. How can we be sure? Because He tells us in His Holy Word that for Him to be unfaithful would be to deny Himself.
God had made promises to David. God has made promises to us also. One appears just above. So for our own good we should be trying to stand on and in God's promises. A man named Russell Kelso Carter wrote a hymn about just that. “Standing on the promises of Christ, my King, Through eternal ages let his praises ring; Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing, Standing on the promises of God. Standing on the promises that cannot fail. When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living Word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God. Standing on the promises of Christ, the Lord, Bound to him eternally by love's strong cord, Overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword, Standing on the promises of God. Standing on the promises I cannot fall, List'ning ev'ry moment to the Spirit's call, Resting in my Savior as my all in all, Standing on the promises of God. [Refrain] Standing, standing, Standing on the promises of God, my Savior; Standing, standing, I'm standing on the promises of God.” Words and music by Russell Kelso Carter, 1849- 1828.
Psalm 143 above continues. “I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands,” verse 5. Reminding ourselves of what our God has done for us in the past can be extremely helpful during trials and difficulties. If the Lord stood by us then, it is likely He will do the same today. Amen?