When crying out for God to help you, do you ever stop to wonder why He should? After all, David admits that in God’s sight, “no man living is righteous” (verse 2). And so when his enemies persecuted him (verse 3), even when his heart and spirit were overwhelmed and appalled at their threats and abuse (verse 4), he couldn’t insist that he didn’t deserve the suffering that they brought into his life. In fact, nowhere in this psalm does he point to his enemies’ wickedness at all.

So, why does David keep on crying out for God’s help? Not because of his own righteousness, but because God is righteous; not because of his own faithfulness, but because God is faithful (verse 1). David thus grounds his pleas not on his own character or even on his past good deeds, but solely on Who God is.

Yes, it is on the basis of God’s lovingkindness – His steadfast, unconditional, covenant-keeping love – that David cries out for deliverance and justice (verse 8). Moreover, instead of trying to earn God’s favor with his own obedience, David simply asks God to teach him how to walk, how to live more consistently in line with God’s good and perfect will (verse 10). Instead of trying to bribe God with gifts, David simply trusts in God, lifting up his soul to God, and taking refuge in Him (verse 9). Far from his greatest desire being to escape his suffering, David wants to be revived so that God’s name would be honored (verse 11). That’s faith, faith in God alone for the glory of God alone.

And we have even more reason for such faith. For great David’s greater Son faced persecution at the hands of His friends and enemies alike. On the cross, His life was not just crushed to the ground but snuffed out; and He was placed in a dark tomb for three days (compare verse 3). But because He rose from the dead, He proved that He had gone through all of this not only to forgive all who trust in Him of all our unrighteousness. By the power of His Holy Spirit, He also offers us new life, resurrection life, life that truly walks in the way we should go because He leads us and guides us.

So, why should God help us today? Because Jesus died for us. Because the Father gave up His only Son for us. Because the Holy Spirit lives within us. So, no matter what may happen to us today, let us trust in Him and serve Him and live for His glory. For a God of such righteousness and faithfulness and lovingkindness deserves nothing less.

Psalm 143 (NASB)

A Psalm of David.
Hear my prayer, O LORD, Give ear to my supplications! Answer me in Thy faithfulness, in Thy righteousness!
2 And do not enter into judgment with Thy servant, For in Thy sight no man living is righteous.
3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul; He has crushed my life to the ground; He has made me dwell in dark places, like those who have long been dead.
4 Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me; My heart is appalled within me.
5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Thy doings; I muse on the work of Thy hands.
6 I stretch out my hands to Thee; My soul longs for Thee, as a parched land. Selah.
7 Answer me quickly, O LORD, my spirit fails; Do not hide Thy face from me, Lest I become like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let me hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in Thee; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to Thee I lift up my soul.
9 Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; I take refuge in Thee.
10 Teach me to do Thy will, For Thou art my God; Let Thy good Spirit lead me on level ground.
11 For the sake of Thy name, O LORD, revive me. In Thy righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.
12 And in Thy lovingkindness cut off my enemies, And destroy all those who afflict my soul; For I am Thy servant.