We are having my father’s old farm cleared to build a new home.  All the trees are down now, but I need to smooth out the land and get up the sticks and rocks. There is an area in the back and east side of the site with steep hills.  I am fearful of hills and I have been moving really slow with my little tractor. It was stressful for me. I went to bed early tonight and woke up early in morning.

I decided to read one of the psalms, I picked Psalm 143 and in verse 10 I found “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” This psalm is listed as one written by King David. David was close to God and blessed in many ways, but he faced many hardships just as we do.  David faced his problems through faith, prayer, and trust in the truth of God.  The following are some notes I made as I read the psalm.

  • David brings his problems to the Lord, but he praises the Lord before requesting help.
  • David often presents the problems using colorful terms and often he speaks of the state of his spirit and heart.
    • “The enemy pursues me,  he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness  like those long dead.”
  • David would then tell the Lord what he needed and then place his trust in the Lord.
  • David ends the psalm again with praise.

Psalm 143 – A psalm of David.

1 Lord, hear my prayer,  listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.

2 Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you.

(David always brings his problems to the Lord. He praises God’s faithfulness before he requests help.)

3 The enemy pursues me,  he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead.

4 So my spirit grows faint within me;  my heart within me is dismayed.

(David often presents the problem using colorful terms, and he often speaks of his spirit and heart.)

5 I remember the days of long ago;  I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.

6 I spread out my hands to you;  I thirst for you like a parched land.

(David remembers the good times and expresses his need for the Lord.)

7 Answer me quickly, Lord;   my spirit fails.

Do not hide your face 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, for I have put my trust in you.

(David makes the point for his need. I think he often uses the term “do not hide your face from me.” Also, I think David often used the term “Let the Morning”, maybe the terms means a renewal?)

Show me the way I should go,  for to you I entrust my life.

9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord, for I hide myself in you.

10 Teach me to do your will,  for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

(David tells God what he needs and places the problem in his hands. He trusts and hides in the Lord.  I like the line “may your good Spirit  lead me on level ground”)

11 For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.

12 In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.

(David ends the psalm with praise to God, making the point that what he is requesting is for God’s namesake, righteousness, and love and that he is asking for help as his servant.)