I have fond memories of Psalm 143 8, it brought me through some very dark days and gave me hope. It reminded me of God’s presence and the fact that I can call on Him when I need help. But let’s look a little deeper at Psalm 143 so we can uncover the meaning and get a better understanding of the Word.
Psalm 143 Meaning
Table of Contents
Psalm 143 is one of seven penitential psalms, so called because they express sorrow for sin or wrong-doing. These psalms typically follow a pattern:
- An expression or confession of sin
- A description of the affliction the author finds himself in
- A specific request.
Psalm 143 contains each of these stages. The psalmist acknowledges that no one is right before God and then he lays out the trouble he’s experiencing with his enemies. Finally, he cries out to God asking for help.
Psalm 143 is one of seven penitential psalms, so called because they express sorrow for sin or wrong-doing. These psalms typically follow a pattern:
- An expression or confession of sin
- A description of the affliction the author finds himself in
- A specific request.
Psalm 143 contains each of these stages. The psalmist acknowledges that no one is right before God and then he lays out the trouble he’s experiencing with his enemies. Finally, he cries out to God asking for help.
If we really look at this prayer we’ll notice that it has certain sections:
- David pleads for an audience and acknowledges an attribute of God – His faithfulness (Psalm 143:1).
- He verbalizes his unworthiness – “Don’t judge me, God, because no one alive is righteous” (Psalm 143:2).
- He states his problem and tells God how he’s feeling (Psalm 143:3-4).
- He thinks about past victories and even about the things made by God (Psalm 143:5-6)
- He asks for what he wants (Psalm 143:7-12).
Psalm 143 could be used as a model for our own prayers when we feel persecuted and in need of God’s help.
Download the Psalm 143 Bible study questions to further deepen your understanding of this psalm.
Psalm 143:8 Meaning
The verse we’re highlighting is key because it basically summarizes the message of the entire psalm.
In the first seven verses of this psalm, David goes from penitent to desperate to anxious. But Psalm 143 8 is where his mood seems to change because David is not without hope. He remembers that God is trustworthy and that he has put his confidence in Him.
He knows that God has been faithful and he’s able to think about what God has done in the past to know He is able to help in the present trouble as well.
Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You (Psalm 143:8 NKJV).
In Psalm 143 8, David asked God to give him an answer in the morning. The word translated as “morning” is the Hebrew word bôqer, (pronounced bo’-ker). Bôqer could have been translated in a number of ways including dawn (as the break of day), morning, early, morning, or morrow.
David is pleading with God for a speedy response, one that hopefully comes with dawn. He wants direction because he knows God is all-powerful and all-knowing and will be able to provide a solution the trouble he knows finds himself in.
David is able to ask God to reveal Himself because he trusts Him. God has been faithful to him time and again. He knows that if he asks, God will give him the desires of his heart because of their relationship and the commitment that he had to the Most High.
Related: 3 Lessons on Commitment from Noah
David knows that God knows the right things to do and so he asks Him to direct his path. Psalm 143 8 is a testament to God’s mercy and kindness and David knows he can count on God.
Psalm 143 8 Message
I’m not sure if this has ever happened to you, but when I’m in distress, the nights seem extra-long. Morning doesn’t seem to come soon enough but when it does, there seems to be a relief.
Maybe it’s never happened to you but David experienced something similar which he wrote about in Psalm 30:5,
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning (NLT).
Our God is mighty to save! The prayer of Psalm 143 8 is one that we can pray every day: “Show me proof of your unfailing love Abba Father, for I will trust you. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life.”
You may also like: