I spread out my hands to you. My soul thirsts for you, like a parched land. Psalm 143:6 WEB

Simply titled as a psalm of David, Psalm 143 is another of David’s pleas to God while in the midst of crisis. It is likely that David wrote these lines late in his life during the rebellion of his son Absalom. The psalm is known as one of seven Penitential Psalms. As such, these psalms consist of confessions and repentance.    

David writes “I spread out my hands to you.” With these words, the king seeks the embrace of the Lord. Showing his need for closeness to God demonstrates the feeling of being removed from the Father. With his arms outstretched, David seeks to restore the closeness of his relationship with God. He wants the comfort and the protection of the Lord.

The words “my soul thirsts for you, like a parched land” indicate the desperation of David’s situation and his need for God’s help. Like crossing a desert land, devoid of water, David’s situation was bleak. He knows that without God’s help, he is lost and facing death because of his enemies. 

During this difficulty, David reflects on his own mistakes. He writes in Psalm 143:2, “Don’t enter into judgment with your servant, for in your sight no man living is righteous. WEB” But also, David remembers the greatness of God and the works of the Lord’s hands. This gives him both reason to repent as well as reason to believe in the mercy and grace of God.  

Teach Me to Do Your Will

In accordance with his God seeking attitude of “my soul thirsts for you,”  David also sought to serve  the Lord, writing in Psalm 143:10, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness. WEB” At this late stage of life, David is still learning and growing in his relationship with God.

The desperate king writes in Psalm 143:12, ‘In your loving kindness, cut off my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul, for I am your servant. WEB” These words requesting God’s help in overcoming enemies who intend to kill him are understandable and yet Jesus teaches a better way to pray. Like each of us, David still had a lot to learn. 

Christ says in Matthew 5:43-45, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. WEB” 

Yesterday’s Devotional: The Riches of His Glory