Psalms 143:7

““Hear me speedily, O Lord.” Hasten to hear me; do not delay. Literally, “Hasten; answer me.” I am in imminent danger. Do not delay to come to my relief. My spirit faileth - My strength is declining. I can hold out no longer. I am ready to give up and die. Hide not thy face from me - Do not refuse or delay to look favorably upon me; to lift up the light of thy countenance upon me. Lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit - Margin, “For I am become like.” The idea is, Unless thou shalt lift up the light of thy countenance - unless thou shalt interpose and help me, I shall die. The “pit” here refers to the grave. See the notes at Psalms 28:1. return to 'Top of Page'”

“143:7-10 The psalmist petitions the Lord for a renewal of his love. 143:7 The psalmist experiences depression. He feels that he is dying from anguish (31:10; 119:87), exhausted (39:10; 71:9; 119:81), fainting with longing (84:2), and overwhelmed by the weariness of life (90:7, 9).”

“Hear me: Psa 13:1-4, Psa 40:13, Psa 40:17, Psa 70:5, Psa 71:12 my spirit: Psa 40:12, Psa 69:3; Isa 57:16; Luk 21:26 hide not: Psa 22:24, Psa 27:9, Psa 69:17; Isa 8:17 lest I be like: etc. or, for I am become like, etc unto them: Psa 28:1, Psa 88:4-6, Psa 88:10, Psa 88:11; Isa 38:18 Psalms 143:8”

“In this second half the Psalm seems still more like a reproduction of the thoughts of earlier Psalms. The prayer, "answer me speedily, hide not Thy face from me," sounds like Psa 69:18; Psa 27:9, cf. Psa 102:3. The expression of languishing longing, כּלתה רוּחי, is like Psa 84:3. And the apodosis, "else I should become like those who go down into the pit," agrees word for word with Psa 28:1, cf. Psa 88:5. In connection with the words, "cause me to hear Thy loving-kindness in the early morning," one is reminded of the similar prayer of Moses in Psa 90:14, and with the confirmatory "for in Thee do I trust" of Psa 25:2, and frequently. With the prayer that the night of affliction may have an…”