Thursday, 28 April 2016 15:33

Psalms 143

Written by  Rev. Sophia Wong
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Psalms 143

Sophia Wong

Pastor of Richmond Hill Christian Community Church

Psalms 143 suggests that the psalmist’s plea is based on God’s character. In a world full of confusion, the people are overwhelmed with hopelessness and helplessness. The psalmist is not asking for justice for no righteous one can live in front of the Lord. Psalms 143 is teaching us how to pray.

1. Point to the source of mercy - “O Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; to our faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief. Do not bring your servant into judgment, for no one living is righteous before you” (Ps. 143:1-2). Despite the restlessness, the psalmist is declaring that God’s will is ultimately manifested as grace.

 

2. Identify the enemy - “The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground, he makes me dwell in darkness like those long dead” (Ps. 143:3) The Satan chases after us in time of confusion. It is an exhausting and endless journey. On the contrary, humans are described as fragile and limited.

3. Touch the emotions -  “So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart (emotions) within me is dismayed” (Ps. 143:4). The psalmist dares to disclose his vulnerability to the Lord because he needs to be authentic and honest to Him. He opens his heart for God’s healing. What are the emotion signals? What are my fears? What are my needs? We often feel insecure and insignificant.  We cannot control our initial experience of an emotion, because the emotion (limbic system) will often override the rational mind (neo-cotex). However, we can recognize them and cope with the stress by the power of the Holy Spirit.

· In anger: “'In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” (Eph. 4:26-27)Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Eph.4:32)

· In worry: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  (Phil. 4:6-7)

· In discouragement: “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all- surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”(2Cor 4:7-10).

· In failure: “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they         succeed.” (Prov. 15:22)

· In sadness: “... my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord!” (Phil.   3:1) “Rejoice  in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4)

· In fear: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no         evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Ps. 23:4)There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)

· In pessimism: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)

4. Remember the good times - “I remember the day of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.” (Ps. 143:5) Counting the Lord’s blessings in good time and in bad time is a spiritual discipline. We confess that the Lord is good and compassionate to His people. We need God’s presence and provision.

5. Praise the Lord in the midst of the problem - “I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land” (Ps. 143:6). We are incomplete and are yearning for the Living Water. “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water” (Jeremiah 2:13). God alone can water a thirsty soul. God invites us to reach out to Him. It is because Christ Jesus has gone through all these sufferings. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in everyway , just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”(Heb. 4:15-16).

6. Pray for deliverance and direction - “Answer me quickly, O Lord; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me or I will be like those who go down to the pit. Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. Rescue me from my enemies, O Lord, for I hide myself in you” (Ps.143:7-9). This prayer shows the confidence of the psalmist. He obviously trusts that God is steadfastly loving. He is the generous and gracious redeemer.

7. We belong to the Lord - “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life; in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble. In your unfailing love, silence my enemies; destroy all my foes, for I am your servant” (Ps. 143:10-12). We trust that God has the ultimate purpose in all these circumstances. The palmist declares that we belong to the Lord and we are His servant. We are convinced that God will carry us over and conquer these mind, spiritual, and emotional attacks. “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor 10: 4-5).

8. The Cross – At the cross, Jesus “disarmed the powers and authorities” (Col. 2:15). The evil forces have no authority to oppose, intimidate, or harass you! At the cross, Satan and the evil spirits were destroyed.  “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—” (Heb. 2:14). “Destroy” means “to put out of action, to make useless.” As a result of Calvary, the Resurrection, and the Ascension, Christ is enthroned. “He is raised far above all rule and authority, power and dominion….And God placed all things under His feet” (Eph. 1:21-22). The heavenly beings include angelic and fallen ones. It is God who reigns.

In summary, let us acknowledge that things will change in this world. Psalms 143 teaches us as a fragile human being, we just have to put our trust unto the Creator and Redeemer. Prayer will change our hearts and uplift our spirits. Prayer will take us to a higher plane and point us to the everlasting source. Prayer will lead us to the right direction and deliverance. Most importantly, through prayer we will acknowledge that He is the great God and most worthy of praise. We are never left alone because we are His people and He is our Lord.

In this prayer journey, we are confident that God’s love never changes: “The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Jer 31:3). “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

God’s Word never changes: “The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.” (Isaiah 40:8). “Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.” (Ps 119:152)

God’s purpose for our lives never changes: “He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.” (1 Sam 15:29). “But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” (Ps 33:11)

Let us continue to trust in Him for His listens to our cry for mercy. He is our ultimate source of faith, hope, and love.

Last modified on Tuesday, 14 April 2020 11:30

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