Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. Psalm 143:11
“I had a dark moment.” Those five words capture the internal agony of a popular female celebrity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adjusting to a new normal was part of her challenge, and in her turmoil, she acknowledged that she wrestled with thoughts of suicide. Pulling out of the downward spiral included sharing her struggle with a friend who cared.
We’re all susceptible to tumultuous hours, days, and seasons. Valleys and hard places aren’t foreign but getting out of such places can be challenging. And seeking the assistance of mental health professionals is sometimes needed.
In Psalm 143, we hear and are instructed by David’s prayer during one of the dark times of his life. The exact situation is unknown, but his prayers to God are honest and hope-filled. “The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead. So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed” (vv. 3–4). For believers in Jesus, it’s not enough to acknowledge what’s going on within us to ourselves, to our friends, or to medical specialists. We must earnestly come to God (thoughts and all) with prayers that include the earnest petitions found in Psalm 143:7–10. Our dark moments can also be times for deep prayers—seeking the light and life only God can bring.
A psalm of David.
1 Lord, hear my prayer,i
listen to my cry for mercy;j
in your faithfulnessk and righteousnessl
come to my relief.
2 Do not bring your servant into judgment,
for no one living is righteousm before you.
he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in the darknessn
like those long dead.o
4 So my spirit grows faint within me;
my heart within me is dismayed.p
5 I rememberq the days of long ago;
I meditater on all your works
and consider what your hands have done.
6 I spread out my handss to you;
I thirst for you like a parched land.a
7 Answer me quickly,t Lord;
my spirit fails.u
Do not hide your facev from me
or I will be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,w
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the wayx I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.y
9 Rescue mez from my enemies,a Lord,
for I hide myself in you.
10 Teach meb to do your will,
for you are my God;c
may your good Spirit
11 For your name’s sake,f Lord, preserve my life;g
in your righteousness,h bring me out of trouble.
12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;i
destroy all my foes,j
for I am your servant.k
INSIGHT
- In the midst of your darkest moments, how do you typically respond?
- Why is it difficult to be honest about your struggles?
Some reputable scholars theorize that Psalm 143 was written during David’s flight from his son Absalom, who with a large rebel force tried to seize his father’s throne. Regardless of the circumstances, it’s clear from the psalm that David felt badly threatened by a deadly foe (vv. 3, 7, 9). And it’s interesting that David asked God to “silence [his] enemies” (v. 12). What were they saying about him? If these enemies were in fact Israelites taking part in a civil war against him, they surely remembered his many sins, including the very public affair with Bathsheba—fodder for malicious gossip and motivation to conspire against the king. This would provide fresh insight into David’s words, “Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you” (v. 2).
PRAYER
Father, please renew my strength and hope in You. When dark moments invade my life internally or externally and bring me low, help me to come to You in prayer. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen!!
Read: Psalm 143 (NIV) | Bible in a Year: Job 3-4 ; Acts 7:44-60
