Sunday, 25th June 2023
Pastor Kathy Poon
Psalm 143
Can we open up our lives completely without any darkness and anything hidden? In Psalm 143, David turned to God in his deepest despair. Do we also know that we can turn to God? When we are in our deepest darkness, we can turn to God, and we can receive the true salvation. David’s prayer teaches us how to turn to God and receive revival. What is revival? It is the coming of the Kingdom of God. When the true God reveal to us that we can be renewed and revived.
I Reaching Out to God in the Dark(v1-6)
1. Pray for Grace
Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, and in Your righteousness. Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous. (v1-2)
God gives us grace because of His righteousness, it’s not because of how much we’ve done for Him, it’s not an exchange but simply the attribute of God. We are not worthy, and that’s why grace is so precious because it’s freely given to us. It’s just like how parents will give to their children willingly without asking anything for return. Do not think that we are not worthy of the grace of God, this is Satan’s lie. God listens to our prayers only because He loves us.
2. State Grievances
For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been dead. Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is distressed. (v3-4)
We cannot hide before God, we can come to God with our true self, He knows how miserable we are, He knows our heart, and we don’t have to pretend in front of Him. The world tells us to present our best self, we are taught not to show our weakness and our true emotions. But God is telling us that we can cry out to Him in darkness. We must not suppress our feelings because one day we will explode. We never should seek comfort from this world, because only God can truely comfort us and satisfy us. We can talk to God and reveal to Him all our emotions, when we open our mouth to pray, God will listen and His supernatural power will revive us.
3. Remember God’s Works
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your works; I muse on the work of Your hands. 6 I spread out my hands to You; my soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah
What is darkness? In darkness we cannot see light, but we must not continue to stay in darkness but to remember how God has led us this far. When we remember the things happened in the past, we will no longer be stuck in the darkness, instead, we can again come to light by the strength of God. When we hold up our hand, we are praying, we are seeking help, and God will come to our rescue. He is our Father in Heaven, when we come before Him, seek Him, and ask Him, He will not turn us down. We must be awaken, in darkness we can remember how God helped us in the past, and He can do it again!
II Cry for Victory, Revive Life (v7-12)
Seven “plead” are used here, and “7” is a complete number. The psalmist does not ask God to take away the tribulations, but to ask God for the complete victory and revival of life.
1. Plead for Speedy Answer
Answer me speedily, O Lord; my spirit fails! Do not hide Your face from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit. (v7)
2. Plead for Lovingkindness
Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust. (v8a)
When there’s a gap in our lives, we may open up opportunities for the devil to come in. But God’s lovingkindness can save us, this is His Agape love, a love of covenant, an unchanging love, and we need to submit to Him. The morning represents hope, in light we can hear God’s Word, and we can receive God’s help.
3. Plead for the Way to Walk
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. (v8b)
The Word of God will guide us the way we walk, when we pray and seek God wholeheartedly. When we really believe that God will lead us, then we can live out the testimony that glorifies God.
4. Plead for Deliverance and Protection
Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; in You I take shelter. (v9)
David cried out to God for protection, he took shelter in God. Do we also take shelter in God? We think that we are disturbed and attacked by the enemies, but we actually walk away from the protection of God. When we pray, do we also listen to God and follow His guidance? Or do we continue to go our own way? God wants us to be under His wings, and He will guide us the way of life.
What we think is best for us may not be what is best in the eyes of God. Only He knows what is best for us and therefore when we seek the protection of God, we must first be willing to come under His wings. Coming under His protection is taking shelter in Him, to be completely submerged within Him, not just one part of our body but all of us, to live under God’s covering.
5. Plead for God to be the Centre of Life
Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; Your Spirit is good. (v10a)
When David turned to God, not only he asked God to deliver him, but he also asked God to teach him. When we know God’s Will, we also must act it out, to really meditate on what is the lesson we are leaning here. We cannot do it with our own strength, but to first let God be in the centre of our lives. When we quiet down our heart and let God be in charge, we are surrounding to God, and He will become the centre of our lives. The centre should always be God, not our family, not our children, not our work… gradually God will give us a new eyesight to see everything and everyone around us.
6. Plead for Leading and Guidance
Lead me in the land of uprightness. (v10b)
The land of uprightness is the place of righteousness, where we will not fall and we will not get lost. God’s Will for us is to bless us, so we must see it in our spirit, see that God will bring us to a better place.
7. Plead for Revival of Life
Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake! For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble. In Your mercy cut off my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul; for I am Your servant. (v11-12)
God’s revival is coming, He will deliver us, not because of how good we are but because of His attributes. David knew the attributes of God, he continued to proclaim the attributes of God. God is a good God, He wants to see us blessed; He is also a righteous God, and He will not put us to shame. God will not withhold any good thing not give to us, He will save us, and He will revive us.