Desperate Prayer

Text: Psalm 143

This song that David wrote was also a prayer when he was overwhelmed. Do you see the word overwhelmed there? 

Righteousness (vss 1-2)

  • David pleads with the LORD on the basis of God’s righteousness.
  • God’s faithfulness
  • God’s righteousness
  • LORD, don’t look for sin in my life because you’ll find it.

Reason (vss 3-4)

  • Being overwhelmed is usually caused by several troubling things happening at once like the loss of a loved one coupled with personal health problems and add to that financial strain. What it feels like is a hole too big to dig out of. You just don’t see any opportunity or light ahead. You can’t see how this gets any better and you don’t know what to do.

Response (vss 5-6)

  • I remember
  • I meditate
  • I muse
  • I reach to the LORD

Requests (vss 7-12)

  • Importance of the LORD’s attention
    • Hear me…
    • Hear me otherwise I have no strength
    • Hear me otherwise I continue to backslide and fall
  • Imploring the LORD’s revelation
    • Cause me…
    • Seeing light brings joy!
    • Lord, show me. I’m looking for your help.
    • Weak because of my flesh. I can’t see what’s right. Like Isaac w/Jacob
  • Immunity because of the LORD’s protection
    • Deliver me…
    • There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
    • Some enemies you can’t fight. How about the enemy of death? That enemy wins and what we all need is deliverance from that enemy.
  • Integrity of the LORD’s direction
    • Teach me…
    • Not just tell me what the will of God is, but teach me how to accomplish it.
    • You’re flesh doesn’t know HOW to accomplish God’s will. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
  • Inspired by the LORD’s motivation
    • Quicken me…
    • The LORD inspires and gives life for His sake and for His purpose which is good.
  • Independence by the LORD’s domination
    • Free me…