Quicken My Soul

Passage Introduction

It is another cry to God from a time of crisis and affliction because of David’s many enemies.

It is numbered among the seven Penitential Psalms – songs of confession and humility before God.

Never been in the penitentiary but sometimes we go to the in-laws for the holidays. The word means there should be reform.

Psalm 143 does not seem to belong to this group as much as the others do (Psalm 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, and 130), but Psalm 143:2 is a strong and clear statement about the unrighteousness of mankind.

Psalm 143 (KJV)

A Psalm of David.

1 Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.

2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.

5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

7 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

Please, hear my prayer.

Psalm 143:1 “1 Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.”

Times where we consider “what do I want to say?” (public prayers) other times we know what to say but wonder “who can help?”

In this crisis, David knew that he must cry out to God and that God must hear him, or he would be lost.

Why Lament?

1. It is a language for loss.

It provides a biblical vocabulary and a model for talking to God about our pain or helping those who are walking through suffering.

Lament is the historic prayer language for hurting Christians.

Believers have a fascination with a prayer language. We often do not know what to say but we want to communicate emotion.

It's critical to recognize that when the Bible uses the term "tongue," it refers to normal, spoken language (e.g., English, Spanish, French, etc.).

The word "tongue" does not mean a strange, non-human sound or utterance.

The Spirit helps us communicate what is inexpressible but does not lead us to utter in incomprehensible languages. Romans 8:26 “26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

2. It is the solution for silence.

Too many Christians either are afraid or refuse to talk to God about their struggles.

Whether because of shame, a fear of rejection, anxiety, or a concern of being irreverent, pain can give rise to a deadly prayerlessness.

Lament cracks the door open to talk to God again—even if it’s messy.

3. It is the proper category for complaints.

Lament helps us see that complaining to God is not necessarily sinful.

For hurting people, knowing that this expression of grief is a biblical and a God-given category can be a watershed moment.

Jesus laments and it effects Him physically. Mark 14:36 “36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.”

This is without sin.

This is without doubting God.

Vocalizing our pain or helping a friend express her heart is one of the life-giving aspects of lament.

4. It is a framework for feelings.

This biblical song of sorrow is more than the sinful spewing of every emotion in your soul.

Lament validates the expression of pain while providing a framework—a God-centered structure—so we avoid falling into the trap of self-centeredness, which can take root in times of deep sadness.

Lament endorses expression, but only the kind with the right objective.

5. It is a process for our pain.

Lament is more than a biblical version of the stages of grief (i.e., denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance).

It invites God’s people on a journey as they turn to God, lay out their complaints, ask for his help, and choose to trust.

Embracing the ongoing—often daily—process of lament requires that we walk by faith.

Lament is more than something that comes out of you. It is part of the process happening in you.

6. It is a way to worship.

Too many people think real worship only means an upbeat and happy demeanor.

But grief-filled prayers of pain while seeking God are among the deepest expressions of God-centered worship.

The Christian life should be marked by personal lament because, through this discovery, we open ourselves to God’s grace and his ability to shape and change us.

Since life is full of sorrows, opportunities abound to make lament a vital part of our spiritual journey. The key is to determine how.

Mark Vroegop, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019), 166.

Please, don’t look at my goodness but Yours.

Psalm 143:1–2 “1 Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. 2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.”

Express sorrow for sin.

Practicing lament can facilitate personal confession and a greater sensitivity to sin.

Too often we may think of lament prayers only coming from hurtful actions of others.

Part of the brokenness of the world is the brokenness of sin in each of us.

Even after we receive Jesus, we need to express sorrow to God for our sin.

There will be times when we reap what we’ve sown (Gal. 6:7).

When our sin has proven costly, we can turn to laments like Psalms 6; 32; 38; 51; 102; 130 and 143, which express deep regret.

Penitential psalms help us know what to say to God about our sin while reaffirming hope for forgiveness and restoration.

Paraphrase 2 Samuel 12

2 Samuel 12:19–24 (KJV)

19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.

20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.

21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.

22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.

Michael Card in Inexpressible Sorrow illustrates this through David’s laments and his hope in God’s forgiveness .

The same stubborn refusal (resolve) to let go of God that is expressed in his laments empowered David to stubbornly refuse to be destroyed by the grief of innocent death and the despair of knowing it was all a consequence of his sin. The painful realities of death and sin had somehow been “dealt with” during his time of lament.

Lament gives us a language for godly sorrow and a reason to hope again.

Lament reminds us that even the small expressions of our wayward hearts—those regular and “respectable” sins—are serious.

Rather than limiting the penitential psalms to major moral failure, we can use the weight of lament to lead us to sensitivity to sin we might be inclined to ignore or neglect.

For instance, by reading the confession of Daniel 9 or Ezra 9, you might shudder at the effects of sin and be moved to make your own confession.

You could read Psalm 32 or 51 while considering what sins in your life require the same kind of cleansing.

In this way lament can shine the light on what we need to confess. It can remind us how much we need God’s grace.

The seriousness of sin as seen through lament helps the soul keep the right perspective.

Our failures are frequent enough and our brokenness deep enough that penitential laments should be a regular part of our spiritual rhythms.

Lament can help you when it feels as if no one else is struggling.

Psalm 143:3–4 “3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. 4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.”

When you’re hurting, no group or outing with friends is going to fill the emptiness in your soul.

If you walk into those moments with high expectations, it will only magnify your pain.

Private lament—all alone with God—has the potential to bring healing to your soul and strength to your heart as you walk a lonely road.

Keep Trusting

Psalm 143:5–6 “5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. 6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.”

Remember the days of old

There were probably mixed emotions within David as he remembered the days of old.

shepherd days

God’s goodness and protection to Israel

“When we see nothing new which can cheer us, let us think upon old things. We once had merry days, days of deliverance, and joy and thanksgiving; why not again?” (Spurgeon)

Meditate on thy works & muse on the work of thy hands

What made the past worth remembering was the work of the LORD.

David thought carefully about what God had done;

Muse; To be so occupied in study or contemplation, as not to observe passing scenes or things present.

Ask God to stretch forth His hand

David respond with his hands, spreading them out before God in prayer and praise.

This posture of prayer and praise was genuine hope for David in the midst of his misery of soul. “‘I stretch forth my hands unto thee,’ as if I were in hope thou wouldst take me by the hand and draw me to thee.” - Baker

Let me encourage you to keep leaning into lament so that you “keep trusting the One who keeps you trusting.”

Keep longing

My soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land.

The ache in David’s soul did not drive him away from God. It drove David to God in prayer, praise, and deep longing

Please, let me hear Your lovingkindness

Psalm 143:7–8 “7 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. 8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”

Desperate and urgent for help

Psalm 143:7 “7 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.”

Desired God’s face, desired God’s blessings

When we live with the belief that God is for us, we are confident in the face of any adversary. Romans 8:31 “31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

The spiritually insensitive man cares little about God’s favor and blessing. He lives only occasionally aware of a break in communion with God. David was not such a man. - David Guzik

Asked for help for hearing

Psalm 143:8 “8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness (hesed) in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”

Perhaps, David wondered if God was speaking and he somehow failed to hear, so he prayed, “Cause me to hear.” This is a good prayer for all to pray.

Confession he did not know know which way to walk.

Asking for help to avoid evil men. Psalm 143:9 “9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.”

Needed guidance to know God’s will. Psalm 143:10 “10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.”

Need for revival and rescrue

Psalm 143:10 “10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.”

Two reasons given.

For God’s glory. Psalm 143:11 “11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name’s sake: for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.”

Because David is God’ servant. Psalm 143:12 “12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.”

Time of lamenting has brought David to a place of knowing his proper identity

Lament is the personal song that expresses our grief while embracing God’s goodness.

Everyone has a story.

Lament is never a song you set out to sing but it is very much needed in our lives

David asked God to deal with his enemies; but before that, he asked God to deal with him.

Time of Response

Have you asked God to hear you today?

Do you need rescuing?

Remember the days of old

Meditate on thy works & muse on the work of thy hands

Ask God to stretch forth His hand

Keep longing / recognize your need for Him