I Stretch out My Hands to You
A psalm of David.
Hunted and crushed into the ground, he asks not to be brought to judgment, since nobody alive is righteous before his Father. He rehearses old works to survive the present, and asks for two things: a word in the morning, and level ground.
143 1My Father, hear my prayer; listen to my pleas for mercy; answer me in your faithfulness, in your righteousness. 2Do not bring your servant to judgment, for no one living is righteous before you. a a v2 Paul drew on this line to teach that no one is made right with our Father by their own record — only through trusting Jesus. 3For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me dwell in darkness like those long dead. 4My spirit faints within me; my heart within me is appalled. 5I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. 6I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
7Answer me quickly, my Father; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me, or I will be like those who go down to the pit. 8Let me hear of your covenant love in the morning, for in you I trust. Show me the way I should go, for I lift up my soul to you. 9Rescue me from my enemies, my Father; I have fled to you for cover. 10Teach me to do your will, for you are my Father; let your good Spirit lead me on level ground. 11For your name's sake, my Father, preserve my life; in your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble. 12And in your covenant love you will cut off my enemies and destroy all the adversaries of my soul, for I am your servant.
