All the Exclamation Marks
“Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy!
In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!”
Psalm 143:1 ESV
I’ve been reading Psalm 143 for almost 2 weeks. I’ve read it multiple times a day this week. Meditating on scripture like this brings it to life. It sinks into my heart and mind and becomes part of my day.
Do you know what I love most about the opening of this prayer? Both sentences are punctuated with EXCLAMATIONS. David was always honest about his feelings and clear about his desperate need for God.
Have you ever felt this urgency deep in your soul?
I have. I love being able to read the Bible and hear my own thoughts there. It makes me feel less alone.
For the enemy has pursued my soul;
he has crushed my life to the ground;
he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is appalled.
Ever felt like this? You're not alone. These last several weeks I’ve really felt the enemy’s hot breath on my neck like he is pursuing my soul and making me sit in the darkness. Just like David describes, I've felt my spirit faint within me. This Psalm has helped me to name that, and to remember that I can ask for God to fight for me. My own effort is needed, yes, but I can call on the Lord to protect me and hide me.
Answer me quickly, O Lord!
My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
V.7,8
Notiice the exclamations again. These are urgent prayers. David is insistent and asking for a speedy response. God notices this kind of prayer all through the Bible. Especially when He is who we choose to lift our soul up to. When we don't choose to distract ourselves with binging Netflix or instagram, but sit with Him, listen for Him.
“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!”
V. 10
When I ask God to teach me to do His will and lead me by His spirit, I’m also subtly gaining ground against the darkness. Each step of my obedience thwarts the enemy. Not only is God relieving my angst, but He’s also giving me something to do about it.
For your name's sake ,LORD, preserve my life!
In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies
and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
for I am your servant.
V.11,12
When David says in your Steadfast, love, you will cut off my enemies, and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul for I am your servant., he is declaring what he believes. He says this in defiance of the darkness. I want to be defiant like that!!!
I love how this Psalm turns when David starts meditating on God’s works. He’s looking forward to what God will do in faith. God will bring his soul out of trouble, He is the one who will cut off and destroy the enemy of my soul too.
Steal this prayer:
God, bring my soul out of the trouble I've been focusing on. Please come quickly. I need You every minute of today because I am aware that my enemy is in pursuit. Open my eyes to both see and remember the ways that You fight for me. Remind me that I am in Your hands not his. Teach me to do Your will, lead me on level ground and cut off my enemies. Do all of this for Your namesake and as I place my faith in You and what You will do, let it please You and frustrate my enemy. In Jesus name, Amen.
Have you ever read a psalm for a week straight? It comes alive. It really becomes a part of your consciousness. God’s word over and over sets your mind, it fixes and restarts. If you want to try it, you can join me next week as I read Psalm 144. I’ll be posting prayers from it during the week on Instagram that you can steel as well.
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